By changing behavioural habits and informing decisions to buy more energy efficient appliances there is less pressure on the electricity grid. Smart meters improve your awareness of energy consumption. By identifying these promptly you can ensure it is dealt with quickly and safely. The In-Home Display shows how much energy you’re using at any given time, allowing you to notice any sudden spikes which may be associated with a faulty appliance. With a smart meter, not only will you avoid inaccurate shock bills but also you can also avoid building a large final bill at the end of your tariff. Sometimes the supplier’s estimates are inaccurate, especially if they don’t have a lot of information about your usage. They estimate based on the typical amount of energy you have used in the past or how much they think you will use. If you have a standard (non-smart) meter and forget to submit a reading, your supplier will have to estimate how much energy you’ve used over the billing period. The smart meter sends your readings automatically so you will always be billed for what you use. It monitors and encourages good energy habits and some homes are already showing energy savings of 5-20%. The In-Home Display can show you exactly how much energy you’re using as well as the associated cost. You can closely track your usage and spend.No more standing in the rain and no more torchlights! Smart meters automatically send out readings to your supplier so you don’t have to worry about remembering to submit them monthly. You can navigate it by pressing buttons or using the touch screen functionality. The display tends to look different depending on who your supplier is but they all have a large display screen. Many people confuse the In-Home Display for a smart meter. Smart meters come in different shapes and sizes however they tend to have buttons which when pressed, will allow you to cycle through the several displays. What does a smart meter look like?Ī smart meter looks a lot like the standard gas and electricity meter that you would have already. Some can even tell you how much carbon dioxide (CO2) you’re producing. The handy In-Home Display communicates with your smart meter to show you how much energy you are using and what it’s costing you. It is different from the actual smart meter. This is an energy monitor you can keep on your kitchen worktop or anywhere else inside your home. The meter automatically sends your reading to your supplier every 30 minutes, meaning no more estimated bills! What is an In-Home Display (IHD)? It’s likely that you would’ve already been offered a smart meter by your energy supplier but what are smart meters, what are the disadvantages of smart meters and should you get one? What is a smart meter?Ī smart meter replaces the current electricity and/or gas meter you have. The rollout hopes to help consumers see exactly how much energy they’re using, and what it’s costing them. More than 21 million smart meters have already been installed. By 2020, all homes and small businesses across Great Britain would have been offered a smart meter.

Smart meeter