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Smart meters are often referred to as the future of energy metering, so what are they, how do they work and how can your business get one? In this useful guide we take a look at smart meters and the benefits they could provide to your business.
Smart meters are designed to send the usage data they collect straight to your energy supplier, so that you do not need to supply manual meter readings. These efficient smart meters send meter readings via a mobile or WiFi connection. In contrast, traditional gas and electricity meters required manual meter readings with bills often based on estimated consumption. This means that many businesses are paying more than they need to if the estimated reading is higher than the actual usage. On the other hand, businesses being charged based on estimated readings that are lower than the real energy use can find that they are suddenly hit with a large bill because they have essentially been underpaying for some time. Commercial smart meters aim to solve this problem while saving businesses the time and effort of taking manual readings regularly.
The latest generation of smart meters are the SMETS2 meters, which have now replaced the first generation of meters. These meters will monitor your gas and electricity supply in real-time, with the data displayed on your smart meter device, so you can monitor consumption closely.
Energy companies across the UK are in the process of switching old gas and electricity meters to new smart meters, as part of a wider government initiative. The aim is to use smart meters as part of a smart grid, which will help businesses and domestic properties become more efficient whilst also lowering the cost of energy.
Suppliers are gradually contacting businesses to offer them smart meters, however if your business would like a smart meter now you can request one from your supplier. The supplier will arrange an installation with their own team of engineers, or a third-party installation company.
The engineer will then be in contact to make an appointment to visit your business premises and the total installation time is usually about 1 hour, with the actual supply to your premises only interrupted for 15-20 minutes. You will need to have separate meters installed for your electricity and gas, so you will need to contact each supplier to ask for an installation.
There is no cost to have a smart meter installed and there will be very little interruption to your business. To ensure a smooth installation on the day you will need to clear the area around your current meter, so that the engineer can quickly and safely access the area to install your new smart meter.
It is also advisable to have the code to any alarms to hand, as these can be activated during the installation. The installation engineer will take the time to show you exactly how your new smart meter works, so you can make the most of its features. Many suppliers offer useful features on their website or via dedicated apps, so you can monitor your energy use easily, set budgets and keep a close eye on bills.
Smart meters are a great way to monitor and reduce energy usage, however it is also important to ensure your business is signed up to the best gas and electricity tariffs to ensure you’re not paying more than you need to.
The latest generation of SMETS2 smart meters are designed to allow businesses to switch suppliers easily, so if you would like to switch to a new supplier in the future, there is no need to have a new meter installed. Whether you are looking to reduce your carbon footprint by signing up to a renewable energy deal or lower bills with a more competitive deal, our team can help you compare and switch. To find out more about comparing energy suppliers or smart meters, please contact our team today.
By sending real-time information to your energy supplier automatically, you are free to concentrate on running your business. There is no need to regularly supply meter readings and you can be sure that your bills are an accurate reflection of the gas and electricity your business uses.
It is also possible to monitor energy consumption habits more closely using the display device or your online energy account dashboard, which can help businesses to improve energy efficiency.
If your business knows when and how the most energy is consumed, it may be possible to move to a more competitive tariff which is more closely aligned to your specific requirements and business activities.
Not only could you lower your energy bills, your business could also reduce its carbon footprint by reducing energy consumption and becoming more sustainable. The network of smart meters is also helping to create a smarter, more data driven, energy system across the country.
This will provide suppliers with the information they need to deliver renewable energy more efficiently, at the times users need it most.
In addition, smart meters are also designed to pick up any issues with your supply. By constantly monitoring your supply information, it is possible to spot and rectify any problems before they have an impact on the business. The best suppliers will also provide tailored advice to help you reduce energy consumption and lower bills.
Under law, it’s not compulsory for UK businesses to have smart meters for energy installed on their premises. However, if your company has traditional energy meters and these reach the end of their working life, your energy supplier will usually replace these with smart meters as they no longer routinely install older types of non-smart meters. If your business premises are newly built or recently renovated or converted, it’s likely that the meters installed will be smart already.
This can depend on the size of your business. If your organisation has high energy use, you are required to use smart half-hourly meters, which send readings every 30 minutes to ensure the energy use is closely tracked. For companies not required to send half-hourly readings, every supplier has their own default settings for reading frequency, usually set every day or once a month. If you are on an energy tariff with different rates for different times of the day/night, your smart meter will usually send half-hourly readings to ensure you are billed accurately.
The main purpose of a smart meter is that you no longer need to take manual readings, but some businesses wish to do so for energy monitoring purposes. Smart meters have different displays from traditional meters, so you will usually need to enter a digital menu to see the current reading on the meter itself. The engineer who installs your commercial smart meter will show you how to take a manual reading if needed, and you can also consult the instruction manual for details.
You may have been provided with a monitor device when your business smart meter was installed. It will display lots of information about your latest reading, your energy use and how much it costs based on your current tariff.
The data that smart meters send to your energy supplier is considered secure because it uses a separate dedicated network that uses encryption protocols whenever information is transmitted. Personal details about your business are not stored on the meter itself and there are strict access controls on the smart meter’s data to stop unauthorised parties from seeing it.
Using the latest available technology, your smart meter is designed to be able to switch between suppliers without losing the smart features that send readings automatically. This means it's one less thing to be concerned about if you’re considering switching energy suppliers to find a better deal for your business.