Smart meters

We're only installing the latest SMETS2 meters, also known as second generation smart meters. That means you're free to switch away from Bulb in the future without losing any features on your smart meter or In-Home Display.

Find out more about Bulb's smart meter rollout

Your smart meter will make your bills more accurate, but it can't actively reduce the amount of energy you use. One of the main ways smart meters can save you money is through your In-Home Display, which shows your energy costs in real time. Being able to see how much you're spending when you boil the kettle or use the tumble dryer can help you to make small changes to reduce your energy usage and cut your bills, too.

Find out how to use an In-Home Display

Everyone is entitled to a smart meter but not everyone is eligible just yet. We're only putting smart meters in homes where the installation is likely to be successful, and that depends on a few things. When you sign up for an installation, we'll check that we have the right meters for your home, that there's enough space for the installation engineer to work safely, and that your home has a strong enough signal from the smart meter network.

If you're not eligible yet, don't worry. We're working hard to offer everyone a smart meter if they want one, so we'll invite you to book an installation as soon as we know it's likely to be a success.

Like a traditional meter, smart meters have a number that counts up to show how much gas or electricity you've used. The main difference is that the numbers are on a screen, instead of an analogue dial. That means you can still read them like your old meter if you want to, but you won't need to share your readings with us because we'll get them automatically.

Find out how to read your smart meter

Smart meters can't collect personal information like your name, your address or your bank account details. The kind of data your meter can collect is protected by law, and only includes your meter readings, supply numbers and meter serial number. You can choose how often your smart meter shares this information with your supplier. This needs to be at least once a month for you to benefit from more accurate bills.

Find out what happens to your smart meter data

We'll never change your tariff without your consent. But if we think you could save money by changing your tariff, we might suggest it at some point in the future. That could be as part of a plan designed to make charging your electric vehicle more affordable, or a tariff that reflects the cost of energy as it changes throughout the day.