Smart meters: are you tied to one supplier?

Our smart reporters hit the streets of Yorkshire to investigate one of the biggest fears people have about upgrading their meter

One of the most common questions surrounding smart meters is whether people can still switch energy suppliers once they are installed.

Customers want to make sure they can shop around to get the best deal, but are worried by headlines about getting ‘trapped’ with a supplier.

So what’s been said about switching suppliers and what is the truth? Critics of smart meters have raised concerns over consumer choice being reduced. However, expert advice from consumer groups says this should not be an issue.

According to Ofgem, the body set up to protect the interests of energy consumers across the country, customers can shop around and switch suppliers with a smart meter, just as they did with a traditional meter.

A lot of the myths around switching appear to be down to confusion over the different types of smart meter – first and second generation. Currently most customers will have a first-generation meter installed, this will start to change as energy suppliers introduce second generation meters, but it’s important to remember that both types can help you to save money.

Second-generation smart meters will be connected to a new communications network, allowing connectivity between smart meters and all energy suppliers. This means that anyone with a secondgeneration meter will be able to switch supplier and keep all smart functions.

Switching supplier with a first-generation meter is still possible, it just means that you could lose some smart functionality and may have to give manual meter readings to your supplier. However, this will be only temporary as these will be upgraded remotely so that all smart meters will operate on the same communications network, so you won’t need to get a new meter installed.

Once all smart meters are connected to the new infrastructure in 2019, everyone with a smart meter will be able to switch suppliers as many times as they like and keep their full suite of features.

All smart meters show customers exactly how much energy they use, helping them to decide which tariff is best for them, and give consumers exclusive access to smart tariffs.

For example, time-of-use tariffs offer different rates based on how much energy is used during peak times.

Having energy use information readily available puts the power in consumers’ hands, allowing them to shop around and get the best deal.

So the evidence for consumers in Yorkshire is not only can you switch supplier with a smart meter, but it is actually easier to get a good deal than with a traditional meter.