Your UK smart meter installation failed? You’re now eligible for £40 compensation – Here’s everything changing
Families will save money on bills through new obligations that energy suppliers will fix their smart meter more quickly, cutting waiting times for billpayers.
Under tough new standards, announced by the government on Tuesday (10 March), suppliers will have no more than 90 days to repair faulty smart meters – or else face action from the regulator, which could include fines or legal action.
While 92% of smart meters work as they should, many households have struggled with their smart meters not operating in smart mode, meaning they do not send automatic meter readings to suppliers – and have had to wait far too long to get them fixed.
Consumers are also now eligible for £40 in compensation if they face issues throughout the process of installing a smart meter, such as delayed or failed installations, following reforms brought forward by Ofgem last month.
And last summer, the government published a guide to smart metering to support families to gain a better understanding of their rights by clearly setting out in one place everything households can expect from suppliers when they get a smart meter.
“Smart meters are already helping millions of people manage their energy use and save on bills,” said Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey.
“But we know far too many people can be waiting several months for their smart meter to be fixed – and losing money in the process. These new rules will put an end to this, making sure meters are fixed in good time – driving up standards, protecting billpayers, and helping more consumers feel the benefits of having a smart meter.”
Energy suppliers will also be required to replace all smart meters that are still connected to 2G and 3G before the services are switched off by 2033, under rules introduced today – ensuring consumers continue to benefit from their smart meters as local networks move over to 4G services.
Almost 40 million households and small businesses across Britain already use smart meters to help them better understand their energy use and bring down their bills. In 2025, households with smart meters saved an estimated £700 million on their bills.
