Smart Meter Installation: What to Know Before, During and After

If you're interested, please register here. You can also book through your online account if there are slots available in your area (top tip: we usually open new slots every Monday).

We'll take care of the rest!

Good to know:

• Even if your meter is outside, someone over 18 must be in your home for the entire duration of the booking. This allows our contractors to carry out safety checks before and after the work is done.
• Our contractors will need clear access to your meter. If it's in a locked cupboard or storage area, please make sure they have access to it until the day of the work.
• We will also contact you by phone or email on the day.
• Please let us know if there are any vulnerable or disabled people in your household by contacting us at hello@octopus. energy.
• Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we are taking precautions to keep you and our engineers safe during the meter installation process. If you think you may have the virus, please contact us as soon as possible by email at hello@octopus. energy.

If you already ticked step 1, congratulations! You'll get paid for your energy usage, have a more convenient meter installed, and enjoy our innovative smart tariff plan right away.

Step 2: Installation

First, we'll let you know when our engineer will arrive.

Next, we'll record the readings from your existing meter and add them to our system.

Then we'll get to work replacing your meter. It will take about an hour per fuel, but your power will be interrupted for about 20 minutes during the installation.

Your new smart meter will be installed in the same place as your old meter (don't worry, the engineer will take your old meter with him).

Once your new meter is installed, your engineer will show you how to get the most out of your new in-home display and give you some energy efficiency advice.

We're excited to install your smart meter!

Watch our quick and easy smart meter installation video:

Octopusenergy, I set up a smart meter today. Your engineer was a quick, polite, tidy professional work. If possible, please tell us your gratitude and bonus.

-BEERYMCLEARY (@beerymcleary) June 29, 2022

I set up a smart meter today. A wonderful service of Octopusenergy. The installer was polite, professional and helped to restore everything. I just hope that we can reduce strange fuel use.

-James Edmondson (@edmondson) May 6, 2022

Octopusenergy set up a smart meter at home! There is also a finger puppet for small children рџђ™рџђ™ pic. twitter. com/sxeJiyrjlr

-Jon Mainhagu (@bobmorden) June 9, 2022

Step 3: Connect

It may take up to 14 days to connect to the meter and the home display after the meter is installed (it is usually faster, but it may be slow because it depends on the industry process). You do not need to contact us about this. In the meantime, automatic meter reading from the meter is not possible, nor does it work on a domestic display.

While waiting for the meter to be connected, you may receive an email to ask for meter reading. The final meter reading from the old meter is already done by our engineer, so you don't need to do anything if you receive this email.

When the meter is completely connected, smart meter data is displayed on both online account "meter" and home display. If it is not displayed yet, it is under the connection. If you have been 14 days or more, please contact us.

Good to know:

• While waiting for the meter connection, you may receive an email to ask for meter reading. Our engineer will take the final meter reading from your old meter and will be added to our system.
• When the meter is completely connected, the smart meter data is displayed on the online account's "Customer Meter", and the display in the home is also lively. If the data is not displayed after 14 days or more, please contact us.
• Smart meter data is collected every 30 minutes, which is your data and you can always control it. You can change your monthly measurements every day, every day, every day, every day, every 30 minutes from your online account.

Step 4: Start saving

We are connected! Now, please make the most of your smart price plan and trial that will save money.

• With the online account and the Octopus app, you can clearly check the electricity charges you are using. In addition, the home display screen shows useful information on energy costs at a glance. Click here to make the most of the IHD.
• There is no need to check the measured value because the meter automatically sends the measured value (if a smart meter is used, the measured value wheel will increase by one rotation).
• Sayonara for an estimate request. With automatic meter reading, the amount of money you actually spend is always charged, and you can control the frequency of the meter meter results.
• You can reduce the amount of the invoice by using the smart tariff, competition, and trial, which maximizes the Green Energy in the UK.

FAQ

I want to make a reservation, but I can't find a convenient date and time.

Tens of thousands of smart meters are installed every month, but reservations are immediately filled. We will contact you as soon as your reservation is filled.

Is the new smart meter installed by an octopus engineer?

The engineer of the Octopus Energy Service will perform the installation work anywhere within the cover range. I usually ride a cute pink octovan. It is also affiliated with various reliable partners: Energise, E. ON, SMS LTD, Providor, QHS, etc.

In other words, don't be surprised if the engineer is not an octopus energy van! The installation should go smoothly, but if you have any problems, please contact this team.

Can I install a smart meter even in a rental property?

If your real estate energy invoice is in your name, you can decide whether to install a smart meter, but we recommend that you inform the landlord first. The Smart Energy GB offers an email template and a letter template.

If the energy rate is the landlord, the landlord will be decided, but you can still ask.

How long does it take to install?

Installation takes about an hour per fuel (it may take more than that, so it is better to have a few hours of spare).

Which do you install SMETS1 meters or SmetS2 meters?

SMETS2 meter is installed. This is an upgrade version, which is currently installed by all British suppliers.

The previous model, SMETS1, accounted for the majority of installations until March 2019. Suppliers are now ramping up the installation of SMETS2, as installations of SMETS1 after 15 March 2019 do not count towards the smart meter quota (a target set by Ofgem for all suppliers). There is nothing wrong with SMETS1 meters.

So what's different?

The main difference between SMETS1 and the new model, SMETS2, is that SMETS2 has a built-in feature that allows you to change suppliers without losing the "smart" features of your meter.

SMETS1 meters are expected to be upgraded to the SMETS2 system remotely later this year (no engineer visit required).

What is the difference between a smart meter and an in-home display?

A smart meter is a unit that is mounted on your wall and replaces a traditional meter. A smart meter sends your meter readings to us so you don't have to.

An in-home display is a small device that records your energy usage in pounds and pence. It looks like this:

Do you have an accessible in-home display?

The Trio In-Home Display is an accessible, "talking" IHD developed for customers who are visually impaired. The IHD can speak the contents of each screen to you. The IHD has been tested and approved by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). It is important to make smart energy technology as inclusive as possible so that we are not left behind in the green energy revolution.

How do smart meters communicate?

Smart meters do not need the internet to communicate. Instead, they work using two wireless networks: the HAN (Home Area Network) and the WAN (Wide Area Network).

The HAN is a secure network in your home that allows digital devices to communicate with each other. This network is used by smart gas meters and smart electricity meters to communicate with each other and with in-home displays.

When smart meters need to communicate with their energy provider, they use the WAN. This secure network is similar to the one your mobile phone uses to send and receive data. They are run by data companies and overseen by the energy regulator Ofgem, which means they must adhere to strict regulations to ensure smart meter data is kept private and secure.

Published 12 September 2022