Households who have policies with British Gas, OVO, EDF, EON and Octopus are being warned to watch out for signs there smart meter is not working properly.
According to a survey by Which? last year, 16% of their 10,193 members surveyed had experienced issues with their device in the last 12 months.
Also, in August 2024, government data revealed 3.5m smart meters did not work when in ‘smart mode’ and not was not sending readings to suppliers.
Smart meters which are working properly should show how much energy has been used so far and the projected cost for the rest of the month.
If there are signs your meter is not working, then you should contact your energy supplier and send evidence.
The Guardian newspaper stated: “If yours shows an error message, no display or outdated readings, then there is a problem”, reports Birmingham Live.
Smart mode means your meter should automatically send readings to your supplier. If it’s not working in smart mode, you’ll need to send regular meter readings yourself. If you have a pay as you go (PAYG) or ‘prepay’ smart meter, smart mode means you can top up online.
The tool can also tell you if your meter should work in smart mode after switching supplier. Martin Lewis, from MoneySavingExpert, told the BBC Radio 4 PM programme that meters with other problems – such as those sending the wrong readings, or a fault with the in-home display – should also be included in the government statistics.
This would mean that about one in five smart meters don’t work, he said. Energy UK, the trade association for the energy industry, says suppliers must replace faulty meters. Unusual bills, sometimes caused by connectivity issues, and a blank screen on the meter can be signs it is not working correctly.
Your bill will also contain information that could help you find out. According to Which?, readings on your bill should be marked “smart” and if they are marked with an “e”, they’re estimated readings, says Citizens Advice.