There have been over 20 million smart meters installed in SME and domestic properties in the UK. There has been a huge rise in their popularity and you may have seen some advertisements recently.

With a stronger focus on saving energy than ever, should your business get a smart meter?

So, what is a smart meter?

They are a new way to show your business electricity and gas usage in real-time. This allows you to see specifically how much energy you’re using, as well as how much you’re spending.

For businesses with less than 10 employees, speak to your energy provider about upgrading. For home-based businesses, you may receive one as part of the domestic rollout. Many energy suppliers now offer free installations.

Are Smart Meters Important For My Business?

There is a reason why so many businesses are having them installed. The government have an initiative to improve energy saving in homes and businesses across the UK. They can save you money, but only if used correctly.

By providing up to date, accurate readings, you’ll be giving your supplier better data about your energy usage. This removes bad estimates, making sure your business pays for the energy it uses, instead of an estimate.

Every 30 minutes, you will have a calculation of your energy usage. This removes the need for submitting readings too. Gone are the days of submitting manual readings. It is now done automatically.

Also, most energy suppliers will now cover the cost of the installation and set up costs through current tariffs. So, no need to think that installing one will cost you a fortune.

It should be noted that you won’t automatically save money. They do not simply create savings without you doing anything differently.

However, by having them installed, you can encourage your employees to reduce energy waste. By seeing live updates of how much energy is used, your staff can be incentivised to introduce better habits when it comes to energy.

So, how do I get a smart meter for my business?

Simply contact your energy supplier and speak to them about what options are available.

We are likely to see them make become more popular in offices and stores, so right now, managers are given the decision to whether having them installed is the right step for their business financially.