Government data published in August 2025 showed that more than two thirds of energy meters in homes and small businesses are now smart meters, according to Which?1. That is nearly 40 million smart meters in total1.
The same figures sit alongside a separate installation target. Energy firms have until the end of 2025 to fit smart meters in 75% of homes1. Companies have annual installation targets set by a formula devised by government, and those that do not meet their targets can face penalties1. Under the conditions of their licences to supply gas and electricity, suppliers must take "all reasonable steps" to install smart meters in their customers' homes1.
The network that carries meter readings back to suppliers covers 99.3% of homes across Britain, according to Smart DCC, which operates it1. It primarily uses long range radio in the north of Great Britain, including Scotland, and 2G and 3G cellular in the central and south regions1. Since July 2025, 4G cellular communications are being introduced across all regions1.
In the home, meters, the in-home display and a communications hub talk to each other over a wireless home area network1. Most homes get a standard single-band hub, which works in 70% of properties; where that does not work, a dual-band hub should cover an additional 26 to 28% of homes1. The remaining 2 to 4% may be reached by "alt HAN" hubs, which can extend the range between a meter and the communications hub up to 50m and are aimed at homes where meters are far apart, thick-walled properties, high-rise flats and rural areas1. Gas smart meters are battery powered and asleep for most of the time, waking every half hour to take a reading1.
"More than two thirds of energy meters in homes and small businesses are now smart meters, according to government data published in August 2025. That's nearly 40 million smart meters."
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Smart meters in homes and small businesses | Nearly 40 million, more than two thirds of meters1 |
| Installation target for homes | 75% by the end of 20251 |
| Network coverage | 99.3% of homes across Britain1 |
| Homes covered by single-band hub | 70%1 |
| Additional homes covered by dual-band hub | 26 to 28%1 |
| Homes potentially served by alt HAN hubs | 2 to 4%1 |
Why it matters for households
A smart meter sends readings to the supplier automatically, every half hour or daily, or monthly in some circumstances, so bills should not rest on estimated use1. The in-home display shows what energy is being used in real time and what it costs, and the same information usually appears in an online account or supplier app1. That is the basis for monitoring a home's energy use without relying on a monthly bill to find out what happened.
Smart meters also open access to time of use tariffs, which charge less for energy used off peak, and to Smart Export Guarantee payments for households with solar panels that export surplus electricity1. Both depend on half-hourly metering rather than a traditional meter. The rollout's progress and targets determine how many homes can reach those arrangements.
There is no upfront cost for a smart meter or its monitor, but suppliers should not describe them as free, because the cost is recovered indirectly through energy bills1. A smart meter does not need wi-fi or a broadband connection in the home1. Households that do not want one are not obliged to accept it, though suppliers are under pressure to install them, and where a supplier is fitting a new meter there is likely to be no non-smart option; a household can ask for it to be set up in traditional mode with communications turned off1. For flats and rented homes, the alt HAN hubs are the part of the network aimed at the cases where signal is hardest to carry.
What happens next
The 75% installation target for homes runs to the end of 20251. The introduction of 4G cellular communications across all regions began in July 2025 and is ongoing1. In July 2023, the Department for the Economy announced that it is developing a "plan for the implementation of electricity smart meters and systems"1. No further dates for that plan are given in the published material.
Sources1 cited
- What is a smart meter? - Which?, which.co.uk