Smart meter installations reach pre-COVID levels for the first time since March

Smart meter installations across the UK recovered to pre-pandemic levels in September following the COVID-19 enforced slowdown earlier this year, according to new data from ElectraLink.

September 2020 saw energy suppliers install 232,000 smart meters, becoming the first month since the initial national lockdown began in March to record more installations than the same month last year.

September 2019 recorded 228,000 smart meter installations – 1.8 percent less than September 2020. Until now, every month this year since March has recorded far fewer installs than the corresponding month in 2019.

With the September 2020 total added to the annual installation tally, 1,333,000 smart meters have now been installed in the UK so far this year.

The latest official statistical release by the UK Government stated that, as of 30 June 2020, there were 21.5 million smart and advanced meters operating in Great Britain in homes and small businesses, of which 17.4 million were smart meters operating in smart mode and advanced meters. This means that 31% of all meters are in smart mode or advanced meters, with a further 8% of meters being smart meters in ‘traditional mode’ (meaning 39% of all meters in the UK are now smart devices).

Installations of smart meters were paused due to the COVID-19 lockdown in March, but later restarted again in June. In light of this, Government confirmed a six-month extension to the existing ‘all reasonable steps’ obligation on energy suppliers until 30 June 2021. BEIS also confirmed that as a result, the smart meter rollout deadline would effectively extend to July 2025.

Smart meters are digitising the UK’s energy system and are therefore a key enabler of renewable energy, green technology and flexible demand that together will be essential for Britain’s transition to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Delivering the UK smart meter rollout

We are one of the country’s leading smart meter installation and asset providers, that’s why energy suppliers count on us to deliver smart meters to their customers around Britain.

• If you are an energy supplier, visit our smart metering & data page.
• If you are a domestic consumer, go to smart homes.
• If you are interested in our direct metering and data services for I&C organisations, go to our metering for business page.