We’ve likely all heard of smart meters now, and you’ve probably received a call from your energy supplier at some time asking if you’d like to upgrade to one. The government hopes that every home and small business in the UK will have one installed by the end of 2025. But can you refuse to have one in your home?
Yes, in most cases you can refuse to have a smart meter installed. However, there are no credible reasons for refusing to accept a next-generation energy meter and a lot to lose by declining one.
By June 2025, energy suppliers should have installed smart meters in every home and small business in Great Britain. The installations are free of charge, although the entire cost of the £13 billion rollout will eventually be spread across everyone’s energy bills.
You are under no legal obligation to accept a smart meter. While your energy supplier has annual targets for installations, they cannot compel you to accept a meter against your will. You can also refuse a smart meter now and then later request to have one installed by your supplier if you change your mind.
The exception is if your meter needs to be replaced or if you’re installing a meter for the first time, such as in a new-build property. In these cases, energy suppliers are required to install smart meters unless there is a good reason not to do so.
Some people have raised concerns that smart meters emit radiation and even that they, along with 5G, cause coronavirus. There is no scientific basis for these rumours.
Smart meters do give off low – radio waves: it’s via this mechanism that they transmit readings to your supplier and your in-home display. However, Public Health England (PHE) says that smart meters give off lower levels of radiofrequency emissions than standard appliances including microwaves and TVs and don’t pose a risk to health.
Smart meters are also subject to the same safety regulations and testing that other wireless devices like mobile phones and baby monitors undergo. According to Smart Energy GB, the campaigning group for smart meters, the devices being installed in British meter boxes exceed every EU and British safety regulation.
Other people are concerned about the regular readings that smart meters transmit to energy suppliers. These communications only contain information about your energy consumption: the same information you send to your supplier, or a meter reader takes. However, if you have concerns about the communications, you can turn off that part of the meter’s functionality and continue to manually submit readings.
Conversely, there are a number of advantages to having a smart meter installed. With a smart meter you: