Smart meter benefits include helping you make better sense of the energy you use. As a result, you are in a stronger position to both lower your bills and reduce your environmental impact.

EDF finally fitted one for me today – after a very long wait! An engineer came out last year but was unable to install it due to the layout of my mains electricity box. This meant I had to first get an electrician in to rearrange everything. After that, I had to go back onto the waiting list… but persistence paid off, and it’s now installed.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

One major benefit of smart meters is the convenience. Automatic readings mean no more waiting at home for someone to manually read your gas or electricity meter. Given that my gas meter lives in the far corner of a cupboard packed with baking bowls and equipment, this is a huge relief! Smart meters use two-way communication between your home and the energy supplier. Therefore, regular home visits for readings are no longer required.

There’s ongoing debate about whether smart meters actually reduce energy consumption. Some research suggests that savings aren’t guaranteed – and I agree that results depend heavily on the individual. For me, the key value lies in visibility. By occasionally checking the in-home display throughout the day or week, you can quickly spot when usage spikes. This naturally leads you to question what’s switched on. It also makes you wonder what might be running unnecessarily, and what could easily be turned off.

An academic study from Australia, based on data from existing trials, found that households reduced electricity consumption by an average of 3–5% after smart meter installation. While that may sound modest, over time this can add up to meaningful savings. These savings can be both financial and environmental.

My hope is that having a smart meter will improve my understanding of how and when I use energy. I also hope it will encourage more mindful habits, and ultimately help reduce both my bills and my carbon footprint.

Watch this space – I’ll be sharing updates on how my energy usage changes over time and whether the smart meter lives up to its promise.

Key Takeaways

Smart meter benefits include lower bills and reduced environmental impact through better energy management.
The installation of my smart meter took time due to previous layout issues, but it is now functioning well.
Smart meters provide convenience with automatic readings, eliminating the need for manual meter checks.
Visibility of energy usage helps identify spikes, leading to mindful energy consumption changes.
An Australian study found that households reduced electricity consumption by 3–5% with smart meters, supporting financial and environmental savings.