By now, everyone knows about smart meters. They’ve been all over the headlines, and appearing more and more in people’s homes. In fact, you might even have one in your own home.
But that’s where most of the conversation about smart meters has been restricted to – the home. So let’s talk about something different. Did you know that smart meters are also being offered to small businesses, so that they can monitor their business gas and electricity usage?
The smart plan
Let’s take a look at the plan behind smart meters. The government has set electricity and mains gas suppliers the target of making the technology available to every home in England, Scotland and Wales by 2020 – that’s 26 million households in total.
So, why is the UK doing this? To phase out imprecise estimated readings in favour of up-to-the-minute digital energy usage recordings, taken by smart meters. These measurements are then sent directly to energy suppliers and used to generate fully accurate bills, based on actual usage.
Many homes have already been fitted with smart meters, but they are not the only buildings that are eligible. Run a small business with fewer than 10 employees? Then, chances are, you’re entitled to a smart meter too. If in doubt, simply ask your energy supplier or broker. If your energy bills are included in the rent you pay for your commercial premises, it’s the bill payer who needs to make the request for your smart meter – so ask your landlord.
How can it help my business?
Here’s a roundup of the benefits a smart meter can bring to your business:
- No shock bills
Manage your overheads more effectively with no more estimated bills and readings.
- Be in the know
Smart meters show you where your energy spend is going. Are those 3 o’clock office tea rounds causing a spike in usage as the kettle goes into overdrive? Is your business wasting energy outside of normal working hours because computers are being left on overnight? These are issues a smart meter can help you identify and, more importantly, act on – whether that means investing in a hot water urn or reminding employees to switch off their machines at night. Developing a heightened awareness and understanding of your energy usage also makes you more likely to make smarter money and energy-saving decisions across your business.
- An end to meter readings
A smart meter is…well, smart. It reads its own meter readings. It does its thing, you do yours. Simple.
- Back quicker after a power cut
The UK’s energy network is getting an upgrade thanks to smart meters. With quicker, more accurate information, suppliers can respond quickly to power cuts.
- The bigger picture
Smart meters are just the beginning. Put simply, the long-term plan is to create a fully integrated smart grid linking different hardware, communications and other technologies together in something of an internet for gas and electricity. Smart meters are a crucial step towards this vision, which will eventually serve homes and businesses alike with greener, more efficient, less wasteful and more cost-effective energy.
- Better tariffs
Smart meters don’t just benefit the customer. They help suppliers to identify usage patterns too – and it’s this kind of information that suppliers need to develop new, innovative and increasingly competitive tariffs.
How do I get a smart meter?
Getting a smart meter for your business requires minimal effort. Once you’ve made the initial move of speaking to your energy supplier or broker (or your landlord, in the case of rented premises), here’s what will happen:
- Set up
If you’re eligible, your energy supplier will contact you to arrange a time for installation. They will work with you to ensure this is a time that works for both parties, and causes minimal disruption to the running of your business
- On the day
Make sure someone is in to greet your installer!
- Done!
With the fitting completed, the installer will show you and your staff how it works.
That’s it! As soon as your smart meter is in, your business can start reaping the benefits.
Positive feedback
Customers with smart meters are responding positively in post-installation surveys. For example, the Smart Meter Customer Experience Study carried out in August 2017 by the government’s Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy revealed that 80% of those surveyed were satisfied with the technology itself, while 89% were pleased with the installation visit.
So, are you ready to take your business to the next level? Talk to your supplier today, or visit www.smartenergygb.org for more information.
