3 ways  a smart  meter can help your scale-up

The UK’s energy landscape has faced a series of shocks throughout the 2020s—pandemics, global conflicts, and market disruptions—all driving price instability.

Amid this volatility, energy costs for businesses remain unpredictable. According to PwC’s 2025 UK Energy Survey, 92% of companies anticipate raising their prices in the coming year (up from 81% in 2024), while 89% report that energy price swings have dented their profitability over the last 12 months.

In times like these, the smartest move your growing business can make is taking control of what you can influence – how you use energy. According to the latest government statistics (as of end of March 2025), 39 million smart meters have been installed across homes and small businesses across Great Britain.

These meters use a secure data network to automatically send regular electricity and gas readings to your energy supplier. That means no more manual readings and more accurate bills.

If your business has fewer than 10 employees, you could qualify for a smart meter. But first, check out the top ways a smart meter can benefit your scale-up business.

#1 – Less admin and more accurate bills

Running a growing business means juggling all your routine admin tasks alongside the occasional setbacks and challenges that can occur as you scale, so anything that can help to lighten your administrative load is a welcome relief.

A step-by-step guide to installing a smart meter for your business – Great Britain is upgrading to smart meters at a quick pace because of the potential benefits to efficiency, cost-saving and the environment, but how easy is it to get one installed for your business and what’s the process?

A smart meter sends regular readings directly to your supplier automatically. That means your bills are more accurate and you’ll only pay for the energy you actually use. And with no need to take manual readings, you’ll have more time to dedicate to your longer-term vision and more capacity to quickly deal with any roadblocks that could otherwise impede your growth.

#2 – Gain greater control over your energy usage

Smart meters allow you to have much greater control of your energy usage compared to a traditional meter. If you receive an In-Home Display (IHD), you can see exactly how much energy you’re using in pounds and pence by day, week, and month. That means you can identify when and why you’re using more energy and take steps to cut back and save money.

Not all energy suppliers will offer you an IHD, but every business with a smart meter or advanced meter will have access to free and regular information on their energy use, either via an app provided by your supplier, an online platform or another data tool.

#3 – Help achieve Net Zero 2050

A smart meter can help your business do its bit to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to achieving Net Zero by 2050 in a couple of ways.

Firstly, by monitoring how your business uses energy and taking steps to cut down and reduce emissions.

Secondly, once you’ve had a smart meter installed, your business becomes part of a smarter nationwide energy system. By providing suppliers with more accurate gas and electricity readings, this system paints a much clearer picture of how home and business energy demand changes over time. Suppliers can use this information to check they have enough energy available at peak times and to prioritise the use of renewables over fossil fuels when meeting this increased demand.

The UK has already made great strides in the use of renewables and the smarter nationwide energy system will help us go even further. According to the UK Net Zero Business Census 2024, in Q1 2023, renewables generated a record 48% of the country’s electricity, up from 7% in 2010.

Get a smart meter for your scale-up

Keen for more accurate billing and to take control over your energy use? Any scale-up with fewer than 10 employees could be eligible for a smart meter. Just contact your supplier for more information about smart meter installation. It usually takes just two hours (one hour for your gas meter and one hour for your electricity meter) and can take place at a time that’s convenient for you. You can also search your energy supplier directly below:

If you run your business from your home, you should also be eligible for a smart meter – every home in Great Britain will eventually be offered one. And if you’re in a rented premises, as long as you pay the bills, you can request a smart meter.

Depending on your supplier and your tariff, you may even be able to get a smart meter at no extra cost. Suppliers may charge businesses for a smart meter, but access to data is free through the default data request.

For more information about the benefits of installing a smart meter in your workplace, visit Smart Energy GB.

This article is part of a paid-for information campaign for Smart Energy GB.

Eligibility may vary. Consumer action required.

Sources:

Smart Meter Statistics in Great Britain: Quarterly Report to end March 2025

The UK Business Climate Hub’s UK Net Zero Business Census 2024

PWC UK Energy Survey 2025 surveyed executives involved in energy decision-making at 800 organisations