Smart Meters - Landlords FAQs
If you lease property you may well have questions about the planned roll out of smart meters across Great Britain and how they are going to affect you and your tenants. Here, we answer some of the most popular questions on the minds of the UK’s landlords:
What are smart meters?
Smart meters are the next generation of power meters and record exactly how much gas and electricity is used by individual households. The benefits of the advanced power meters is to enable home owners to make energy savings and for energy companies to do away with estimated bills to reduce costs at their end. Smart meters accurately record the amount of energy used and avoids you or your tenants being overcharged.
How do smart meters work?
Smart meters feed usage information from users to energy companies, and pricing information from companies to users. The smart meter system comes with its own wireless network for the home powered by a communications device (the communications hub) that sits alongside the meter. The hub allows the smart meter information to be read instantly on the portable in-home display (IHD) that also comes as part of the smart meter system. This means that the bill payer knows how much energy they are using and how much it is costing them. It also means that the energy company has access to information about the supply to the property.
Where is the smart meter installed?
The smart meters themselves will usually be installed in the same place where your current analogue system is sited. The IHD can be put wherever you or your tenant find it useful.
When do I have to fit a smart meter?
Smart meters are being rolled out nationwide from autumn 2015, although some companies have already started the installation program. British Gas, for example, have already fitted box meters in one million UK homes. The government plans to install the new power meters in every home by 2020. To find out when the roll out is planned in your area, contact your energy supplier.
Do I have to install a smart meter?
No, installing a smart meter is optional, but they do give users benefits such as improving the UK energy grid with increased information about grid usage to the energy suppliers, helping consumers make choices to reduce bills and become more energy aware in the fight against climate change.
What if my tenant wants to install a smart meter – can I stop them?
If someone's name appears on the energy bill for a particular address, they have the right to make the decision whether or not they install a new power meter. Therefore, a tenant does not need a landlord’s permission if they are the ones who pay the bills. The alternative is to continue standard practices of receiving your gas and electricity and factor the costs into monthly rental charges.
Who is responsible for supplying and installing the power meters?
Your energy company will supply and install the meters, and handle any customer service issues that may arise.
Do I have to pay for the meter to be installed?
There is no upfront charge for the smart meters. The cost of the installation roll out will be automatically factored into every UK energy bill, working out at £14.36 extra per year, regardless of whether you agree to a smart meter or not. In effect, this means you won’t save money by rejecting the smart meter.
I have a prepayment top up meter. Is a smart meter any better?
You can also get prepay smart meters if you prefer. They work in the same way as a pre-pay mobile phone.
Do I still have the option to change electricity suppliers at a later date?
Yes. In terms of service from energy companies, nothing will change. Regardless of which company installs your smart meter, you or your tenants still have the option to switch to another company if you find a service you prefer.
What do I do if the meter box is damaged?
The meter box is the property of the customer, the person named on the bill. If your tenants are named on the bill, they are responsible for arranging the repair of the meter with the energy supplier.
And finally, what are the benefits of installing a smart meter?
• Accurate, near-real time recording of actual gas and electricity used
• An end to estimated bills
• No risk of overpayment
• Potential to significantly reduce energy bill
• No more sitting at home all day waiting for meter readers
• Increased security (once installation is complete, there is no requirement to let strangers into your house)
Smart meters have the potential to improve the energy infrastructure of the UK and reduce the amount of energy consumption in the fight against climate change. Although installation is optional, adopted use of the meters will be beneficial to individuals, families and the UK as a whole.
*This article was written by Richard Oldale, a freelance writer who specialises in energy, travel and ancient civilisations
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