Smart Meter Rollout in Lancashire: Where We Stand in Late 2024

Around 65% of Lancashire homes now have a smart meter installed, broadly in line with the national average. The government’s target of offering a smart meter to every UK household by the end of 2025 is being pursued through all major energy suppliers, with Electricity North West (the local distribution network operator) supporting the technical infrastructure. If you have not yet had a smart meter fitted, your supplier should contact you to arrange one – and there are good reasons to say yes, along with a few things to be aware of before the engineer arrives.

Smart meters replace your old gas and electricity meters with digital versions that send automatic readings to your supplier, eliminating estimated bills. They also come with an in-home display (IHD) that shows your energy use in real time. But the rollout has not been without problems, and some Lancashire homeowners have had frustrating experiences. Here is an honest assessment of where we stand.

Benefits of Smart Meters

The practical benefits for Lancashire homeowners include:

No more estimated bills. Your meter sends readings automatically, so every bill is based on actual usage. This eliminates the common problem of inaccurate estimates that plague many Lancashire households, especially those with hard-to-access meters in under-stairs cupboards or outdoor meter boxes.

Real-time usage visibility. The in-home display shows exactly how much electricity and gas you are using right now, displayed in both kWh and pounds. Seeing the cost tick up when you switch on the oven or tumble dryer is a powerful motivator for reducing waste. Research suggests that smart meter users reduce their electricity consumption by 3-5% and gas by 1-3% simply by being more aware of their usage.

Access to better tariffs. Time-of-use tariffs (like Octopus Go, Agile and Intelligent Go) require a smart meter. These tariffs offer significantly cheaper overnight electricity, which benefits EV owners, battery storage users and anyone who can shift usage to off-peak hours. Our guide to time-of-use tariffs in the North West explains the potential savings.

Easier switching. Smart meters make it simpler to switch energy suppliers because your usage data is automatically available to potential new suppliers for accurate quotes.

Export measurement for solar. If you have solar panels and want to be paid for exported electricity through the export tariff, you need a smart meter (SMETS2 type) to measure your exports accurately.

Common Problems in Lancashire

The smart meter rollout has encountered several issues that Lancashire homeowners should be aware of:

SMETS1 vs SMETS2: Early smart meters (SMETS1, installed before 2019) sometimes lose their smart functionality when you switch supplier, reverting to “dumb” meters that require manual readings. SMETS2 meters (the current standard) are interoperable across all suppliers. If you have an older SMETS1 meter, ask your supplier about upgrading to SMETS2.

Signal issues in rural Lancashire: Smart meters communicate via the mobile phone network (or in some areas, a dedicated radio network). In parts of rural Lancashire – the Trough of Bowland, upper Ribble Valley, parts of Over Wyre – mobile signal is poor, which can prevent the meter from sending readings. The DCC (Data Communications Company) has been expanding coverage, but some rural properties still have connectivity issues.

Thick-walled properties: Lancashire’s stone-built cottages and older terraces have thick walls that can block the wireless signal between the meter (usually in an external meter box or under the stairs) and the in-home display. If your IHD shows “connecting” or loses signal, try moving it closer to the meter or to a higher position in the house.

Appointment availability: Some Lancashire postcodes have experienced long wait times (3-6 months) for smart meter installation appointments. If your supplier quotes a very long wait, ask if they can prioritise your area or use a different installation partner.

Prepayment meter concerns: Some prepayment meter customers in Lancashire have been switched to smart meters in prepayment mode. While smart prepayment is generally better than traditional key/card meters (you can top up online, no need to visit a shop), some customers have reported issues with the switch. If you have concerns, discuss them with your supplier before the installation.

Should You Get a Smart Meter?

For most Lancashire households, the answer is yes. The benefits of accurate billing, real-time usage data and access to better tariffs outweigh the minor inconveniences. Specific situations where a smart meter is particularly valuable:

• You have solar panels and want export tariff export payments
• You have or plan to get an EV and want an off-peak charging tariff
• You have battery storage and want to use time-of-use tariffs
• Your bills are frequently estimated and inaccurate
• You want visibility of your energy usage to identify savings

Situations where you might want to wait or think carefully:

• You are in a very rural area with known poor mobile signal – check with your supplier whether their meters work in your location
• You have a complex metering arrangement (dual supply, economy 7 with non-standard wiring) – these can sometimes cause installation complications
• You are planning to move house soon – the smart meter stays with the property, so the new occupant benefits rather than you

What to Expect During Installation

Smart meter installation is free and takes approximately 45-90 minutes for a dual fuel (gas and electricity) installation. The engineer will:

• Turn off your gas and electricity supply briefly (usually 15-30 minutes per fuel)
• Remove the old meters and install the new smart meters in the same location
• Set up the communications hub that connects the meters to the network
• Provide and set up the in-home display
• Test everything and show you how to read the display

You will need to be home during the installation, and you will need clear access to your meters. If your meters are in hard-to-reach locations (common in older Lancashire terraces), mention this when booking so the engineer brings appropriate equipment.

Will a smart meter increase my bills?

No. A smart meter does not change your tariff or the amount of energy you use. It just measures your usage more accurately. If your previous bills were based on underestimates, your first accurate smart meter bill may be higher – but this reflects your actual usage, not an increase caused by the meter. Over time, the awareness provided by the in-home display typically helps you reduce consumption.

Can I refuse a smart meter?

Yes. Smart meter installation is not legally mandatory. You can decline when your supplier contacts you. However, without a smart meter you cannot access time-of-use tariffs, the export tariff for solar exports, or accurate half-hourly data. As the energy market moves towards smart tariffs, not having a smart meter increasingly limits your options.

What if my smart meter stops sending readings?

If your smart meter loses connectivity, it continues to record your usage accurately – it just cannot send the data to your supplier. You will not be billed inaccurately; instead, your supplier will ask for manual readings until connectivity is restored. Contact your supplier if your meter has been offline for more than a few weeks. They can send an engineer to diagnose the issue, which is usually a communications problem rather than a meter fault.