The in-home display shows us how much energy we’re using in pounds and pence – and could help us manage our bills
We’d need to have been living on another planet to have missed the headlines about rising energy costs. One way to take the guesswork out of bills might be getting a smart meter.
They can be really helpful if we are on a low income. Why? It’s nice to feel in control of our bills. And it’s nice to know we’re paying for what we’ve used, rather than a best guess.
With a smart meter, we can see how much energy we’re using and what it costs on an in-home display. This could take some of the guesswork out of balancing our budget.
We’ve all been a bit strict about putting the heating on in winter to try to save money. After all, who wants a massive shock when the bill drops?
While an in-home display alone won’t cut our bills, it can give us more understanding of how much we’re using and when. Then it’s up to us to make the changes that’ll help
our pockets.
We can search ‘get a smart meter’ on the internet. Or we can just contact our energy supplier to ask for one.
Can I get a smart meter?
We might think that if we rent our homes having a smart meter is our landlord’s call. But that’s not the case – if the bills are addressed in our name then we can ask for a smart meter.
Even if we don’t pay our energy bills, we can still ask our landlord to request a smart meter for us. If they know it could help us manage our budget better they might be keen to help!
With a prepay smart meter we can top up online or via a mobile phone, as well as in a shop. We can see on our prepay smart meter in-home display when we need to top up.
Some people think they’ll struggle to cope with the change because of their age or a disability. But the truth is, a smart meter can be helpful if we’re vulnerable. We can sit them in a handy place where we can see the display easily.
No more crawling into a dark cupboard to take readings! Not fun if we have mobility issues. And if we’re older or struggle to remember things, having a smart meter in an easy-to-see place can help us keep energy costs in the front of our minds.
There are even special smart meters that have bigger buttons and can read the information out loud for us. This is called an accessible in-home display (AIHD). Not all suppliers offer them, but if we think it would help us make the change then it’s certainly worth asking.
Smart meters can help us save energy but it’s not automatic. We can use the in-home display to work out how to save energy around the home. Some homes can’t get a smart meter yet. Our energy supplier can tell us if we can have one and how soon it can be installed.
In partnership with Smart Energy GB
Image: Smart Energy GB
