Energy consumers are gradually moving from passive receivers of bills to active players in the fight against energy waste.
Smart meters can help in achieving this. But what role can your practice and employees play in making the most of this technology?
Active players in energy
Research taken by USwitch found that, between 2019 and 2023, the number of smart meters installed in the UK more than doubled, with nearly 1,800,000 non-domestic (businesses and public sector buildings) smart meters now installed.
Many businesses who have adopted smart meters have seen an 11% reduction in energy use, worth up to £135 a year on average.
Smart meters enable consumers to be proactive about understanding their energy use and cutting down on energy waste and costs where possible. You can enable your team to do this too, equipping them with that understanding and making them active players in the fight against energy waste.
Understanding how it could benefit you
Smart meters also put an end to unnecessary meter readings.
In 2024, small business owners reported spending 36% of evenings and weekends on admin. Having your energy automatically tracked and sent to your supplier cuts down on admin as well as costs.
Most smart meters come with in-home displays (IHDs), giving users near real-time data about their energy consumption and equipping them with the tools to adapt to more energy efficient habits.
If a display isn’t available, your supplier will provide the information by default. Over time, you can use that information to identify patterns of energy use, working out where you can make changes to manage costs.
This information could help you make decisions about the future of your business, such as understanding the impact of taking on more people or investing in new equipment.
How do smart meters help towards a greener future?
Smart meters have a part to play in creating a greener future for everyone.
According to Smart Data Communications Company, the use of smart meters is preventing the release of over one million tonnes of carbon per year – the equivalent of taking a million cars off the road.
Smart meters provide energy suppliers with more accurate information about energy use patterns, helping them to better understand their customers’ energy use. This information can help them develop tariffs that encourage customers to use less energy at peak times, which helps them to manage demand. This then reduces the maximum amount of energy needed in the system, enabling us to make more use of renewables and rely less on fossil fuels.
Through the Demand Flexibility Service, consumers can opt to reduce their energy usage at peak times. Between November and December 2023, homes and businesses saved enough energy to power 7.5 million homes for an hour. It helps at a time of year when energy demand is high, taking pressure off supply, with consumers and businesses standing to save some cash.
As a practice, you can look at how to adapt your operations to take advantage of schemes like this, cutting your own costs at the same time as helping to make our energy system more efficient.
How to get a smart meter
If you’d like to find out more, talk to your energy supplier about getting a smart meter installed. You can agree the time and date that best suits you, so there’s minimal disruption to your business.
You may be eligible for a smart meter whether you own or rent your premises, but you may need to check with your landlord that changes to your meters are allowed within your rental contract. If your landlord pays the energy bills, contact them and ask if they are planning to get a smart meter for your building.
For more information about the benefits of installing a smart meter in your Practice, visit smartenergygb.org.
Hayley Bannister,
Partnership Marketing Manager
Smart Energy GB
Hayley.bannister@smartenergygb.org
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