Ofgem published its Final Decision on Guaranteed Standards of Performance (GSOPs) for smart metering on 30 January 2026, setting out further detail on the proposals being taken forward1. The decision follows Ofgem's statutory consultation of 8 August 2025, which itself responded to an earlier consultation on GSOPs dated 28 March 20251. In its Final Decision Document in January, Ofgem announced that it would bring the GSOPs referred to as "GSOPs 1-3" in straightaway1. These GSOPs have been in place since 23 February 20261.
GSOPs are regulations that require energy suppliers to meet specific service standards, such as fulfilling requests for appointments, and to provide automatic compensation to consumers if they fail to do so1. The government's response to its separate Smart Metering Policy Framework post 2025 consultation, published on 10 March 2026, records Ofgem's January decision and notes that the closing date for that government consultation was 3 October 2025, with 64 responses received1.
"Ofgem published their Final Decision on 30 January 2026, which includes further detail on the proposals being taken forward."
The government response sets out related decisions on the wider framework. It states that the existing Operational Licence Condition will be strengthened to require suppliers to take all reasonable steps to ensure smart meters in traditional mode are back working in smart mode for consumers as soon as possible and no later than 90 days from the date energy suppliers are first aware1. It also states that an obligation will be introduced for energy suppliers to take all reasonable steps to complete the domestic smart meter rollout by installing smart meters in all remaining domestic premises by the end of 2030, replacing the current Targets Framework for domestic meters, which concluded at the end of 20251. Annual milestones for new installations and pre-emptive replacements will be binding and without tolerances from January 20271.
On communications, the response states that in 2026 the DCC will launch a Virtual WAN (VWAN) service so that, with consumer consent, broadband can be used to connect homes without WAN coverage to the national communications network for smart metering1. A consultation on proposals to drive new smart meter installations in the non-domestic sector followed in October 2025 and closed on 16 January 20261.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ofgem Final Decision published | 30 January 20261 |
| GSOPs in place since | 23 February 20261 |
| Government consultation closed | 3 October 2025; 64 responses1 |
| Traditional mode restoration deadline | No later than 90 days from supplier first becoming aware1 |
| Domestic rollout obligation | All remaining domestic premises by end of 20301 |
| Binding annual milestones from | January 20271 |
Why it matters for households
The smart meter guaranteed standards set the service levels suppliers must meet and the automatic compensation owed when they do not, so the January decision fixes the detail behind a regime that has applied since 23 February 20261. For a household, the practical effect sits in the interaction between those standards and the licence conditions on how quickly a meter that has fallen back to traditional mode must be restored: the government response puts that at no later than 90 days from the point the supplier first becomes aware1. A meter in traditional mode does not provide automatic readings and cannot be read remotely, so it has to be read manually1.
The wider framework bears on a home's energy independence in two ways. First, the obligation to install smart meters in all remaining domestic premises by the end of 2030, replacing the Targets Framework that concluded at the end of 2025, sets the timetable under which households without one are reached1. Second, the VWAN service planned for 2026 is intended to connect homes that have no WAN coverage using broadband, with consumer consent1. The government response cites evidence of sustained savings for consumers using smart meters and in-home displays of 3% for electricity and 2.2% for gas credit1. It also states that smart meters allow consumers to access the Demand Flexibility Service and optional smart tariffs, with a figure of up to £900 per year for electric vehicle customers1. The smart meter rollout therefore continues under a changed compliance regime rather than the annual targets that ran to the end of 2025.
What happens next
Annual milestones for new installations and pre-emptive replacements become binding and without tolerances from January 20271. Energy suppliers will be required to submit annual deployment plans to Ofgem, and the time in which Ofgem will have the option to reject a deployment plan is reduced from 40 days to 28 days1. The DCC is to issue a Statement of Availability of Communication Services setting out dates from when it will not be able to provide SMETS1 and 2G/3G communication services1. The government response states that the smart meter network is to transition to 4G before the 2G and 3G networks are switched off by 20331.