Carbon Co-op announced in April 2022 that householders can gain access to their gas and electricity smart meter data independently of their energy supplier, through a service called Powershaper Monitor1. The Manchester-based organisation, which describes itself as enabling householders to gain this access, said the data can be viewed and downloaded after what it calls a simple onboarding process1.
The service covers both fuels. Carbon Co-op states that users can view energy use over the last day, week, month or a custom range, and can download the data to evaluate or process in whatever way they choose1. Access to smart meter data is normally arranged through the supplier that owns the meter, so a route that sits outside that relationship is the central claim here.
Powershaper Monitor is priced at £12 per year, or free with Carbon Co-op membership1. The organisation gave no further detail in its announcement on how the onboarding process works, what hardware if any is required, or how quickly data becomes available; none of that has been reported1.
"Carbon Co-op can now enable householders to gain access to their smart meter data, for both gas and electricity, independent of your energy supplier"
The announcement was framed around rising bills, with Carbon Co-op noting that people are increasingly concerned about tracking their energy use1. It did not publish any figures on savings, nor any comparison with supplier apps or in-home displays1.
Why it matters for households
A household's energy independence rests partly on who holds its consumption data and how easily the occupants can get it out. Supplier apps and portals typically show usage, but the household's ability to export and keep that record can depend on the supplier's own tools and terms. A third-party route such as this one is intended to put the same underlying meter readings in the householder's hands, in a form they can download and keep1.
That matters for several practical reasons. A downloadable history is what makes it possible to check a bill against actual consumption, to see what changed after a home energy monitor or appliance was installed, or to hand evidence to an installer sizing a heat pump or solar array. It also matters if a household switches supplier, since the record stays with the household rather than the account.
The £12 annual charge is small against typical household energy spending, though the announcement makes no claim about savings and none should be inferred1. Whether the service suits a particular home depends on having a smart meter that is communicating, and on the consumer access device arrangements in place; the announcement does not set out those requirements1.
What happens next
Carbon Co-op directs interested householders to its membership page or to contact it directly for more information1. No launch date beyond April 2022, coverage limits, or technical requirements were stated1.