Chameleon Technology launched the ivie app on 31 August 2022, describing it as a free energy-saving app that gives users control over their home energy1. The app runs on a household's smart meter data and shows where and how energy is being used at home, alongside personalised tips and challenges1.
Chameleon said the launch came as average energy bills rose to £3,549 from 1 October 20221. The company said the app is supplier-agnostic, meaning it is not tied to a particular energy supplier1.
"The launch of our free, supplier-agnostic app will help households make the right energy-saving decisions"
The app breaks energy use down by activity and habit, such as laundry or appliances left on, and offers tips and challenges based on actual usage1. It also carries a reward system: users complete challenges to save energy and earn points that can be exchanged for raffles and prizes1.
Live data is not included in the app on its own. Connecting an ivie Bud in-home display to the app allows users to see live energy data, which Chameleon says can help with instant decisions about when energy is used1. The ivie Bud was launched earlier in 2022 as part of Chameleon's replacement in-home display service1. It works with all energy suppliers and is compatible with most SMETS1 and SMETS2 smart meters, and households are directed to a compatibility checker before checkout1.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free1 |
| Data source | Household smart meter data1 |
| Live data | Only when connected to an ivie Bud IHD1 |
| Supplier tie-in | Supplier-agnostic1 |
| Rewards | Points from challenges, exchanged for raffles and prizes1 |
| ivie Bud compatibility | All suppliers; most SMETS1 and SMETS2 meters1 |
Why it matters for households
A smart meter records how much electricity and gas a home uses, but the data is only useful if a household can see and interpret it. The ivie app is one route to that, using the meter's own readings rather than a separate monitoring device. The distinction between an app and an in-home display matters here: the app alone gives historical usage and breakdowns, while live data requires the ivie Bud hardware1. For a household weighing up in-home display versus smart meter app, the ivie setup sits across both, with the app as the free layer and the display as the paid upgrade.
Seeing which activities drive usage is the basis for cutting it, and that in turn reduces how much energy a home has to buy in. That is the practical link between monitoring and smart meters and energy independence. Households wanting to know what a smart meter can realistically deliver on bills can read our guide to how much a smart meter can save on energy bills, and those working out the cost of individual appliances can use appliance running costs with a smart meter. Chameleon's own displays are covered in Chameleon in-home displays for smart meters.
What happens next
No further dates were given in the announcement beyond the 1 October 2022 price cap change it referenced1. Chameleon directs households to a compatibility checker before buying an ivie Bud, to confirm their smart meter will work with it1.
Sources1 cited
- Chameleon Technology Launches the ivie App, chameleontechnology.co.uk