Smart meters have become an essential part of the UK’s transition to a cleaner, smarter energy system. With more households across Essex, Kent, London and the surrounding South East installing solar panels and switching to a solar PV system, understanding how smart meters fit into the picture is more important than ever.
Whether you’re looking to reduce energy bills, cut carbon emissions or maximise your returns on your solar energy, this guide explains the real pros and cons of a smart meter and why a smart meter is almost always a smart move.
Why Smart Meters Matter for Solar Homes
If you already have solar panels or are thinking of switching to solar, a smart meter becomes even more beneficial. It’s your gateway to:
- Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments
- Accurate measurements of excess solar energy
- Real time monitoring to help you optimise your solar usage
With more than 60% of UK homes now using smart meters, they’re rapidly becoming standard for anyone serious about saving energy and money.
What Is a Smart Meter?
A smart meter is a digital energy meter that records your gas and electricity usage, automatically sending accurate meter readings to your supplier. It connects to a small in home display (IHD) that shows, in real time:
- How much electricity you’re using
- What appliances are costing you to run
- When your usage spikes
In homes with solar PV systems, the smart meter also tracks how much surplus electricity your export to the grid, which is crucial for receiving SEG payments.
Benefits of a Smart Meter – When You Have Solar Panels
Lower Energy Bills
A smart meter won’t magically reduce your consumption, but it does make you more aware of it, making you more like to choose smart choices to reduce your consumption. According to Smart Energy GB, 86% of smart meter users say they’ve changed their energy habits since installing their smart meter.
For solar users, real time monitoring helps you shift energy heavy tasks, such as using the washing machine or tumble dryer, to daytime hours, maximising your free solar electricity and reducing reliance on the grid.
Cut Your Carbon Footprint
Households account for around 17% of UK carbon emissions. A smart meter helps you reduce grid demand, especially when paired with a solar PV system and that means lower carbon output for your home.
Access Solar Export Tariffs (SEG)
This is one of the biggest advantages of a smart meter for solar panel owners. Most export tariffs require a smart meter to track the electricity your system is exporting. Without one, your solar panels can only reduce consumption, they cannot earn your export income.
A typical UK home with a 4-5kWp solar PV system can earn around £300-£350 per year through SEG payments.
Accurate Bills
A smart meter stops the need for manual meter readings and stops estimated bills. Your smart meter ensures you only pay for what you are actually using.
No More Meter Readings
Smart meters automatically send usage data, saving time and ensuring your bills remain accurate when energy prices change. Readings are sent every 30 minutes for most smart meters.
Disadvantages of Smart Meters
While the pros far outweigh the cons, here are the only two real drawbacks:
You Must Be in a DCC Covered Area
The smart meter network (DCC) covers over 99% of the UK, including most of Essex, Kent, London and the surrounding South East, so this is rarely an issue for our customers. Poor mobile signal does not affect smart meter performance.
Savings Are Not Automatic
You don’t save money just by installing a smart meter, the savings come from using the information it provides to change your energy habits and reduce consumption. For solar panel owners, SEG income is automatic, as long as you have the smart meter installed.
Smart Meters and Solar PV Systems: Why They’re the Perfect Match
A smart meter is essential if you want to maximise the value of a solar PV system:
- Measures exactly how much solar energy you export
- Ensures you receive your SEG payments
- Helps you track how much free solar electricity you use
- Encourages peak time behaviour changes to further lower bills
For homeowners across Essex, Kent, London and the surrounding South East, where solar uptake is rapidly growing, a smart meter ensures your renewable investment pays off with maximum returns.
How to Get a Smart Meter
Installing a smart meter is free, done by your energy supplier and completed within two hours. You’ll usually get one meter for electricity and one for gas, with a shared in home display.
Are Smart Meters Worth It?
In almost every case – yes. For households with solar panels or anyone considering a solar PV system, a smart meter is essential for unlocking export earnings and getting the most from your renewable energy system.
A smart meter, when paired with a solar PV system can help:
- Reduce your bills further
- Increase your savings
- Earn money through the SEG
- Improve your energy independence
Considering Solar Panels for Your Home?
SolarTherm UK installs high quality solar PV systems, batteries and energy saving technology across the South East, helping homeowners slash bills and become more energy independent.
Contact SolarTherm UK today for a free, no obligation quote and design, tailored for your property, usage and future energy needs. No hard sell, just honest, expert advice.
Your home. Your energy. Your future.
Do smart meters increase your bills?
No. They simply monitor usage. Most people see reduced bills, especially solar owners.
Do I need a smart meter for solar panels?
Yes — if you want SEG export payments. Without one, you can’t earn from excess solar electricity.
Are smart meters safe and secure?
Yes. They transmit only usage data using a secure private network.
Do smart meters work if I switch supplier?
Modern SMETS2 meters do. Most older SMETS1 meters have now been upgraded remotely.
