What are smart meters and how can they help me save money?

Smart meters are more than just a tech gimmick; they’re a tool that can really help us to take control of our energy consumption. By providing real-time info, making our bills more accurate and promoting energy efficiency, smart meters are becoming a huge help when it comes to cutting down the costs of our bills and making our energy go further.

 In this handy guide, we'll explore what smart meters are and look at how they can help you save money and help the environment…

What are smart meters?

Smart meters are digital devices that replace traditional analogue meters used to measure electricity, gas, or water consumption in our homes. Unlike their old-fashioned siblings, smart meters provide real-time data on your energy usage which can then be remotely monitored by utility companies. These devices come equipped with a wide range of features that can change the way you view your energy consumption.

 The benefits of having a smart meter

1. You can see what you’re using

One of the biggest advantages of smart meters is that they allow you to access real-time information about how much energy you use, when you’re using it and how much it costs. With a smart meter, you can track your consumption on a daily basis via a website or mobile app – gone are the days of a monthly bill! This transparency lets you make better decisions about your energy habits and helps you to learn about how you can reduce the amount of energy you use and save money.

2. More accurate billing

Traditional meters often relied on estimates or manual readings, which could often result in bills being miscalculated or people paying for more energy than they’ve actually used. Smart meters eliminate this issue by automatically recording your usage and sharing that information with your provider, meaning your bills should reflect your actual consumption.

3. Improved energy efficiency

By using real-time energy information, you can identify what appliances or activities might be using up a lot of energy. This can help you make more informed decisions to reduce the amount of energy that goes to waste in your home. You’ll be able to see in real-time the impact of simple switches like reducing the temperature of your clothes wash or turning down your thermostat.

Many smart meters come with built-in tools and notifications that help you set goals, track your progress, and adjust your habits to become more energy-efficient. This not only benefits your wallet and saves you money in the long-term, but it also reduces your carbon footprint.

4. Time-of-use pricing:

If you have a smart meter, you can ask your energy provider if they offer a time-of-use tariff. These tariffs offer different energy prices depending on the time of day or night, so it’s cheaper when less people are using energy, or when there’s more renewable energy available.

By paying attention to unit charges and how they change throughout the day, we can start to plan when to use energy-heavy appliances like washing machines so that they cost less money to use in the long run.

Pro tip: some appliances - like washing machines or dishwashers – often have built-in timers, so you could run these appliances overnight when it’s cheaper, and they’ll be all done by the time you wake up!

5. They’re better for the environment

 By reducing our energy consumption smart meters can help the way energy is distributed across the country, and help us tackle climate change. By conserving energy and reducing the need for new power plants, smart meters can help to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and support the transition to cleaner energy sources like wind and solar.

Embracing smart meters is a small but impactful step we can all take to reduce our environmental footprint and manage our energy consumption So, if you haven't already, consider making the switch!

Looking for more advice on how to get a smart meter or how to use it? Click here to check out these tips!