Smart meters were first invented in 1974 as a means of managing and tracking energy consumption. Fifty years later, government and industry experts view them as a key tool to keep consumer costs down and tackle climate change.
As the rollout of smart meters ramps up, what better time to collate the definitive UK smart meter statistics report? This page will cover the number of smart meters installed in the UK, the government rollout scheme, and exclusive survey results sharing how the UK public feels about smart meters.
Top UK smart meter statistics for 2025
- As of the close of 2024, there are nearly 38 million smart meters installed across the UK.
- Electricity meters installed by large suppliers account for nearly two-thirds (56.26%) of all smart meters installed in the UK.
- Throughout 2024, more than 2.76 million domestic smart meters were installed throughout the UK, representing an installation rate of nearly 7,564 a day.
- The non-domestic smart meter installation rate is much lower, at 340 a day throughout 2024.
- 2018 was the peak year for smart meter installation, with 6,208 gas and 7,860 electricity meters installed each day.
- As of the end of 2024, the government has yet to reach its Q4 2025 smart meter rollout target, with less than two-thirds (64%) of all UK homes and small businesses having a smart meter.
- In April 2025, the Data Communications Company - the dedicated network for smart meters - recorded 20.5 million homes and small businesses being connected to the network.
- Only a third (33.9%) of Uswitch customers report being ‘very satisfied’ with their smart meter.
- Just under one in 20 (4.6%) smart meters have provided incorrect readings.
- Of the three-fifths (63.7%) of customers who are not interested in smart meters, the majority simply ‘just don’t want one’ (40.2%).
How many smart meters are installed in the UK?
By the end of 2024, there were nearly 38 million (37,993,475) domestic and non-domestic smart and advanced meters in UK homes.
Statistics indicate that the number of smart meters in the UK has steadily increased since they were first rolled out in 2008.
By March 2022, more than 800,000 homes had installed a smart meter since the energy crisis began in the summer of 2021, and the numbers since have continued to rise.
How many domestic smart meters were installed in the UK in 2024?
According to the latest Department for Energy Security and Net Zero data, in 2024, more than 2.76 million (2,760,796) domestic smart meters were installed in the UK by large suppliers. This represents an installation decrease of nearly a sixth (15.44%) from the 3.26 million meters installed across the UK in 2023.
Number of domestic smart meters installed in 2024 by type
The 2,760,796 domestic smart meters installed in 2024 are equivalent to an installation rate of nearly 7,564 a day.
More than half (55.19%) of the smart meters installed in the UK in 2024 were for electricity, while the remaining 44.81% were of the gas type.
This trend is consistent with 2023, when nearly three-fifths (56.01%) of the 3.26 million smart meters installed were of the electricity type, while more than two-fifths (43.99%) were for gas.
How many non-domestic smart meters were installed in the UK in 2024?
A non-domestic smart meter is installed on premises aside from residential homes, such as businesses and public sector buildings.
Across the UK, 124,000 non-domestic smart meters were installed in 2024, equivalent to almost 340 each day. This is a decrease of more than a sixth (17.8%) from the number installed in 2023 (150,986).
Of the 124,000 non-domestic smart meters installed, a fifth (20.57%) were advanced, while the majority (79.43%) were standard smart meters.
Number of non-domestic smart meters installed in 2024 by type
Within the 25,506 advanced meters installed, three-fifths (61.71%) were designed to monitor electricity consumption, while nearly two-fifths (38.29%) were for gas. This distribution is matched but more severe within the 98,501 smart meters installed, where nearly nine in 10 (87.95%) were for electricity and more than a tenth (12.05%) for gas.
Number of smart meters operated by large and small energy suppliers in the UK
When combining domestic and non-domestic smart and advanced meters, a total of nearly 38 million (37,993,475) were installed as of December 2024.
Number of domestic and non-domestic smart meters operated by large and small suppliers at the end of 2024
Of these, the overwhelming majority (96.98%) were installed by large suppliers, with electricity meters from large suppliers accounting almost three-fifths (56.26%) of all meters in operation and gas meters accounting for two-fifths (40.72%)
Those installed by small suppliers account for just 3.02%, with small suppliers’ electricity meters constituting 1.9%, while gas represents 1.12%.
Number of UK smart meters installed over time
Throughout 2024, figures from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero indicate the UK smart meter installation rate was 3,532 gas meters and 4,643 electricity meters installed each day.
Number of meters installed in the UK over time by type (2015-2024)
Over the decade to 2024, the UK’s smart meter installation rate was highest in 2018 for both gas and electricity meters. During this year, an average of 6,208 gas meters and 7,860 electricity meters were installed across the UK every day.
This rate was lowest in 2015, when the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero recorded 1,904 gas meters and 2,624 electricity meters being installed each day. These figures represent a decrease of nearly 70% (69.33%) and virtually two-thirds (66.62%), respectively, from the installation peak of 2018.
UK smart meter rollout
The UK government first announced its intention to mandate suppliers to install smart meters in 2008 after realising the benefits that it would bring. A full smart meter rollout enabled consumers to actively keep track of their energy usage to help reduce costs. In turn, this should help raise consumer awareness and reduce consumption as part of the wider net zero strategy for reducing the impacts of climate change.
In 2011, the UK smart meter rollout went a step further, with the government setting out a vision for every home and small business in Great Britain to have a smart meter by 2019. In 2012, it placed a legal obligation on suppliers, requiring them to take all reasonable steps to install smart meters in all homes. However, the 2019 target has since been pushed back to the end of 2025.
To find out when your smart meter will be installed, check out our guide on how the smart meter rollout affects different energy suppliers in the UK.
UK government smart meter rollout installation targets
As of 2024, the UK government remained short of its Q4 2025 target, as just over three-fifths (64%) of homes were equipped with a smart meter, with the deadline having been described as “not helpful” by a deputy director of the industry's trade body.
Take-up of smart meters in the UK (2012-2024)
In 2012, just 1% of all UK households had a smart meter. This figure doubled to 2% in 2013 before staying stagnant in 2014.
By 2015, the percentage of homes with a smart meter had shot up to 6% before almost doubling to one in 10 homes (11%) in 2016. The figure came close to doubling again as, in 2017, the percentage reached nearly a fifth (19%).
In 2019, take-up rose again by 94.75%, growing from 19% in 2017 to 37%.
2021 was the first year in which more than half of all meters were smart meters. Take-up rose five percentage points in 2022 to 55%.
Check out our guide on how to check, trace, and change energy usage to save you money on your energy bills.
How many UK premises have smart meters?
As of April 2025, nearly 20.5 million (20,442,795) UK small businesses and homes are connected to the smart meter network.
This represents a rollout increase of 1.72% from the start of 2025, when nearly 20.1 million premises were connected to the network, and more than a tenth (11.39%) from a year prior, April 2024, when 18.3 million were connected.
Number of UK homes and small businesses connected to the smart meter network (April 2024-April 2025)
This progress represents a great environmental impact. Over the year to 2 April 2025, more than 1.25 million (1,255,508) tonnes of CO² emissions were saved by smart meters on the DCC network.
UK smart meter market value
As of 2024, the global smart meter market value is estimated to be around £10.6 billion. As the UK rollout of smart meters has increased, so has the market size of smart meters, both nationally and globally.
The market value of smart meters worldwide has increased year-on-year since 2020. Between 2020-22, the smart meter market size increased by almost 13% from £8.2 billion to £9.25 billion.
Smart electricity meters market size worldwide (2020-27)
From 2025-26, projected figures suggest that the global smart meter market value could rise by another 7%, from £11.3 billion to £12.1 billion.
The global smart meter industry could be worth up to £12.5 billion by 2027 – a 52.4% increase from 2020.
Uswitch smart energy survey data
To gauge the popularity and take-up of smart meters, Uswitch surveyed 17,603 UK households and asked a range of questions regarding their feelings and experiences.
How many people had heard of smart meters (2024)
The vast majority (95%) of those surveyed had heard of smart meters.
In terms of the raw numbers, 16,710 responded yes to the question as to whether they had heard of a smart meter, compared to 870 who had not.
How many people were satisfied with the installation of their smart meter (2024)
Smart meter statistics show that most people are satisfied with their smart meters, with more than two-thirds (67%) describing themselves as either ‘fairly satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’.
The most popular answer was ‘very satisfied’, the answer of choice for just over a third (33.9%) of respondents, closely followed by ‘fairly satisfied’ (33.1%).
On the other hand, a combined 14.7% would describe themselves as ‘fairly dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’.
How people rated the benefits of having a smart meter (2024)
Results from our smart meter survey show that, of those with smart meters, more people had positive feelings about having them than negative. In all, more than two-fifths (41.6%) of people surveyed gave their smart meter a four or five rating out of five. Less than a fifth (19%) scored their smart meter a one or two out of five.
Overall, approximately three-fifths (61%) more people felt the benefits of smart meters were considerable compared to those who felt they had no benefits at all.
For more information, our energy guides have a range of pages for those looking to compare energy, change providers, or find solutions to energy-related issues.
How many appointments were required to fit a smart meter (2024)
According to our smart meter survey, more than half of all UK smart meters were installed in just one appointment, with only a fifth (19.9%) taking two or more appointments.
Overall, a smart meter is around ten times more likely to be installed in a single appointment than over the course of three.
How many smart meters provided readings to the supplier (2024)
Our smart meter survey data shows that more than four-fifths (86.6%) of smart meters fitted provided readings to the energy supplier, with less than one in seven (13.4%) failing to give a reading.
Our guide on how to understand your energy usage can help make sure you’re paying a fair price for the energy you’re using and whether or not you should consider switching provider.
How many smart meters provided incorrect readings (2024)
Our smart meter data shows that incorrect energy meter readings are rare. The majority of (95.4%) smart meters fitted in the UK provided incorrect readings to their energy supplier.
By having a higher level of accuracy, smart meters mean you’re only being charged for the energy you use. Providing you keep up-to-date with your payments, this means you're less likely to get into debt with your energy supplier as you’re not being hit with potentially large, estimated bills or future energy back billing.
How many people felt their bills became more expensive after getting a smart meter (2024)
Before having a smart meter fitted, many people feared that installing one would cause their bills to go up. However, our survey data suggests that this is not the case.
With around one in 20 (5.6%) reporting a rise in average energy bills since the installation of a smart meter, this shows that the vast majority of UK residents with a smart meter should see their energy bills go down or remain the same as a result of installing a smart meter.
UK energy statistics indicate that the average combined energy bill is £1,625 as of March 2024. Smart meters can become one part of the solution to help customers reduce their energy bills and save money.
To make the most of your smart meter, you can download Uswitch’s Utrack app. This helps you monitor your energy usage and gain a deeper understanding of your bills by seeing an hourly breakdown of usage and insights on where you might be wasting energy.
How many people felt they couldn’t switch energy supplier after getting a smart meter (2024)
A common misconception about smart meters is that they tie you to a particular energy provider. However, our survey data shows that just 3% of smart meter owners felt that it was harder to switch energy suppliers now than before.
The overwhelming majority (97%) felt switching energy suppliers was no harder than before installing a smart meter.
“Our survey data indicates that a majority of customers believe having a smart meter means they can’t switch energy providers, but this is simply not true.
You can still change your supplier if you already have a smart meter installed. Most smart meters now work with the national smart meter network (called the DCC), meaning they’ll continue to work normally after you switch. Even if your meter temporarily loses some smart functionality, your energy supply won’t be affected, and you can still submit readings manually. Switching is a great way to save money, so don’t let this common myth hold you back.”
How many people would be interested in getting a smart meter (2024)
Despite evidence from our survey suggesting that smart meters don’t increase bills or make it harder to change suppliers, many people are still hesitant to get one installed in their homes.
Of those surveyed who didn’t have a smart meter, almost two-thirds (63.7%) showed no interest in getting one for their property, while less than a quarter (23.9%) stated that they would be open to the idea of having one installed at home.
If you’re one of the nearly quarter (23.9%) Brits who is interested in getting a smart meter, you can find out how to do so by visiting Smart Energy GB. Simply input the name of your supplier, and Smart Energy will take you to your supplier’s site, where you can follow the steps to get connected to the network.
Reasons why people didn’t want a smart meter (2024)
Of the people who did not want a smart meter, the most common answer was that they simply were not interested. The next most popular answer was that the user doesn’t trust that the technology source is secure and may put the user’s data at risk.
Less notable concerns were that the smart meter might lose functionality, something that only 5.4% of people were worried about. More than a tenth (10.6%) of people believed the decision was out of their hands as they did not own the property.
For further information, check out our guide on energy saving tips, to see how you can reduce your energy consumption and save money on your domestic energy bills.
Smart meter FAQs
How big is a smart meter?
On average, the size of a smart meter is smaller than a conventional gas or electricity meter. For example, the Aclara V2.5 is 1.8cm less in height compared to a standard electricity meter and 1.6cm narrower.
A smart gas meter is 0.4cm shorter and 0.4cm narrower than a conventional one.
What is a smart meter in the UK?
A smart meter is an electronic device that records the consumption of electric energy and gas in intervals of an hour or less. It uses this information to help with monitoring and billing. Smart meters are designed to help customers manage their energy consumption more effectively.
Are smart meters for both gas and electricity?
Yes, UK smart meters are used for both gas and electricity. They automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier, ensuring accurate bills and allowing you to monitor your energy usage in real-time. This helps you manage consumption and reduce costs.
When did smart meters come out?
Smart meters started to be rolled out more widely in the UK between the late 2000s and early 2010s, with significant government backing to encourage their adoption. The UK smart meter rollout programmes were announced in 2008, with the aim of every home and business in Great Britain having a smart meter by 2019. This has now been extended to the end of 2025.
Is it law to have a smart meter?
No, as it stands, it’s not a legal requirement in the UK for individuals to have a smart meter installed in their homes. The government has encouraged the rollout of smart meters to improve energy efficiency and billing accuracy, but the installation is voluntary, and consumers can choose whether or not to have a smart meter installed.
However, by law, energy suppliers are required to offer smart meters to all their customers by a certain deadline, but customers can decline the offer.
How much energy does a smart meter use?
A smart meter uses very little energy, which means it won’t cost you any more in terms of the energy they use. Smart meters also have their own energy source that doesn’t count towards the rest of your energy consumption.
How do I get a new smart meter?
To get a smart meter, contact your energy supplier directly. Most suppliers offer free smart meter installation as part of the national rollout program. They’ll explain the installation process and arrange an appointment for a trained technician to install the meter in your home.
If you need a new smart meter, because your current one is faulty or you’re eligible for an upgrade, your supplier will assess the situation and schedule a replacement if necessary. This service is usually provided at no extra cost.
How is a smart meter fitted?
A professional technician from your energy supplier should fit a smart meter. This process typically involves temporarily turning off your power, removing your old meter, and installing the new smart meter. The technician should then test the new meter to ensure it’s functioning correctly and provide you with an in-home display (IHD) that shows your energy usage in real-time. The entire process usually takes a couple of hours.
Where are smart meters installed?
Smart meters are usually installed in the same location as your old gas and electricity meters. This is often under the stairs, in a kitchen cupboard, or outside in a meter box. The installation should be done in a place that’s easily accessible for reading, maintenance, and ventilation (for gas meters) to ensure it complies with safety regulations.
Which energy suppliers use smart meters?
Nearly all major UK energy suppliers use smart meters in the national rollout program, aiming for widespread installation across homes and businesses. This includes suppliers like British Gas, EDF Energy, and ScottishPower.
What network do smart meters use?
In the UK, smart meters use the Data Communications Company (DCC) network to securely send and receive metering information. This dedicated wireless system, designed specifically for smart meters, ensures data is transmitted effectively across different regions, including areas where mobile or internet coverage might be poor.
Do smart meters need a mobile signal?
Yes, smart meters often use a type of mobile signal to communicate. However, they don’t rely on conventional mobile networks like smartphones. Instead, they use a secure, nationwide wireless network specifically designed for smart meters, ensuring they can send and receive information even in areas with poor mobile coverage.
You will generally need a mobile signal to track your usage on the mobile app.
How do I connect a British Gas smart meter to Wi-Fi?
Typically, British Gas smart meters don’t connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network. They use the specialised wireless network designed for smart meters, which allows them to communicate with British Gas to send meter readings and receive updates.
Smart meter glossary
Data Communications Company (DCC)
A dedicated network connecting UK smart meters to the energy suppliers and ensures secure transmission of energy consumption data.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh)
A unit of energy measurement representing the amount of power consumed per hour that is used to quantify energy usage by smart meters.
Prepayment meter
A type of domestic energy meter that requires you to pay for energy before you use it. Prepayment meters often use a smart card, token, or key that is topped up in shops or via a smartphone app, and are sometimes referred to as “pay-as-you-go” energy.
Smart meter
An electronic device that records the consumption of electric energy and gas, and communicates the information to the energy supplier for monitoring and billing.
Smart meter rollout
The ongoing process initiated by the UK government to install smart meters in all homes and small businesses across Great Britain.
