Ofgem published a statutory consultation on 8 August 2025 covering new Guaranteed Standards of Performance for smart metering, including a draft Statutory Instrument and a draft Impact Assessment1. The consultation set out four proposed standards and closed to responses on 12 September 20251. It followed a consultation published on 28 March 2025 which sought views on introducing specific Guaranteed Standards of Performance in areas of smart metering1.
The four proposals covered installation appointment availability, failed installations, investigation of smart meter operational issues, and meters not operating in smart mode1. Under the first, a supplier would have to offer a first time smart meter installation appointment within six weeks of the request, otherwise the consumer receives compensation1. Under the second, a consumer receives compensation if an installation fails due to a fault within the supplier's control1. Under the third, a supplier must complete an initial assessment, take an appropriate action and offer to update the consumer within five working days, otherwise compensation is payable1. Under the fourth, a consumer would receive compensation if their meter was not operating in smart mode for over 90 days due to an issue within the supplier's control to resolve1.
Ofgem said the level of the standard payment had recently been raised from £30 to £40 in line with inflation1. It also said it aimed to implement the proposals from January 2026, and that its minded to position on the smart mode standard was to implement it from April 2026 should that be deemed appropriate at the final decision1. The consultation stated there would be no exceptions or exemptions for specific geographical locations, so that consumers receive the same service regardless of region1.
"Guaranteed Standards set out minimum performance standards which all energy suppliers must meet and, when they don't, automatic payments are issued to the affected consumers."
The consultation also sought views on whether the standards should apply to non-domestic consumers within scope of the smart meter rollout as well as domestic consumers1. Ofgem said it was no longer proposing individual standalone regulations for the first three standards, and was instead proposing to amend the existing 2015 regulations1.
Separately, the government consulted on a post-2025 smart metering policy framework, issued on 8 August 2025 and closing on 3 October 2025, covering licence condition amendments, a 2030 obligation on suppliers to complete the domestic rollout, and annual deployment plans2. That consultation noted Ofgem's statutory consultation was published on 8 August 2025 to close on 12 September 20252.
Why it matters for households
The proposals concern the service a household receives when it asks for a smart meter or reports a fault with one. Under the draft rules, missed appointments, failed installations and unresolved operational problems would trigger automatic payments rather than requiring a complaint. The consultation document states that consumers with smart meters are protected by the same Guaranteed Standards as those on traditional meters, but that there are currently no Guaranteed Standards referring explicitly to smart meters and the specific experiences those consumers may have with their supplier1. For a household weighing up a smart meter, the practical effect would be a defined timescale for an appointment and a defined response time when something goes wrong. The smart meter rules and supplier obligations set out how the existing framework operates, and the Ofgem guide explains the regulator's role in setting and enforcing these standards.
What happens next
The consultation closed on 12 September 20251. Ofgem said it aimed to implement the smart meter Guaranteed Standards in January 2026, with the smart mode standard from April 2026 if taken forward at the final decision1. The government's separate consultation on the post-2025 framework closed on 3 October 20252.
Sources2 cited
- Supplier Guaranteed Standards of Performance: Statutory Consultation, ofgem.gov.uk
- Smart Metering Policy Framework – Post 2025: consultation, assets.publishing.service.gov.uk