Smart meters when you switch

One of the most common switching worries is whether your smart meter will keep working. The useful answer is not just “SMETS1 or SMETS2”. The real question is whether your meter can send readings to Octopus once your new account has been set up.

For most households, the meter keeps measuring energy normally throughout the switch. The part that can pause is the automatic data feed. That is why an opening reading and a quick follow-up check matter, even if you already have a smart meter.

What usually happens first

When you switch supplier, your opening reading is used to close the old account and start the new one. Octopus says you can normally submit an opening meter reading up to five days after the supply start date, and that reading then goes through an industry handover process before the old supplier can issue a final bill.

If your smart meter is already communicating, Octopus may receive the reading automatically. Still keep a photo or note of the meter reading on the day you switch. It gives you evidence if either supplier later uses an estimate or the final bill looks wrong.

It is also normal for the app, bill and in-home display to lag behind during the handover. Citizens Advice says readings can take a few weeks to show after a recent supplier switch or account setup. That does not mean your meter has stopped recording usage.

If you have a SMETS2 meter

SMETS2 meters were designed to work through the national smart-meter network, so they should usually survive a supplier switch better than older first-generation meters.

There can still be a short setup period while Octopus registers the meter against your account. During that time, automatic readings or half-hourly data may not appear straight away. The meter itself should keep recording usage accurately.

Use this checklist:

1. Submit or save an opening reading when the switch completes.
2. Check your first Octopus account screen for the expected tariff and meter details.
3. Look at the next bill to see whether readings are actual or estimated.
4. If automatic readings do not start after the setup period, contact Octopus and ask them to check the smart-meter connection.

Your in-home display may also take time to reconnect. Treat the app, account and bill as more important than the display screen. The display can be blank or out of date even when the meter is still recording correctly.

If you have a SMETS1 meter

SMETS1 meters are more variable. Some older meters used to lose smart functionality when the household changed supplier, which meant the meter still recorded usage but stopped sending automatic readings.

That old rule is no longer universal. DCC says millions of first-generation meters have been migrated onto the national smart-meter network, restoring smart functionality for many households. An enrolled SMETS1 meter may behave much like a SMETS2 meter after a switch.

If your SMETS1 meter is not enrolled or cannot be read by Octopus, you may need to submit manual readings until it is migrated, fixed or replaced. Citizens Advice says the upgrade should usually happen automatically, and if there is a problem with the upgrade the supplier may need to arrange a second-generation meter.

A practical way to avoid guessing is to use the Citizens Advice smart meter checker, then ask Octopus whether your meter is communicating and suitable for the smart tariff you want.

If automatic readings do not restart

Do not panic in the first few days. A short gap after switching can be normal. After that, focus on evidence rather than the in-home display alone.

Check:

• whether your latest Octopus bill says actual, smart or estimated readings
• whether the app shows recent electricity and gas readings
• whether half-hourly data appears if you have given consent for it
• whether the meter serial number on the bill matches the meter in the property
• whether you have a SMETS1 meter that may not be enrolled

If readings stay estimated beyond the normal setup period, contact Octopus through the app or website. Ask them to confirm whether the meter is connected to the smart-meter network, whether the issue is with the meter or just the display and whether they need any manual readings from you in the meantime.

If you do not have a smart meter yet

You can still switch to Octopus with traditional meters. You will submit manual readings and can use tariffs that do not require smart functionality.

A smart meter becomes more important if you want time-of-use tariffs such as Agile, Go, Intelligent Go or Cosy, or if you want detailed usage data in the app. Octopus says it installs the latest generation of smart meters and releases new appointments regularly, but availability depends on your area and property.

Once a smart meter is installed, Octopus says it can take up to 14 days to connect the new meters and in-home display. During that period, automatic readings and the display may not work yet.

Smart tariffs after switching

If you are switching mainly for a smart tariff, separate the supply switch from the tariff switch.

Citizens Advice says an energy switch requested as soon as possible should usually complete within five working days, and you still have a 14-day cooling-off period. Octopus may place you on Flexible first, then move you to a smart tariff once the meter, readings and eligibility checks are ready.

For most people with a communicating SMETS2 meter, that can be fairly quick. For an enrolled SMETS1 meter, it may also be straightforward. If the meter is not communicating, allow for manual readings, troubleshooting or a meter exchange before relying on a smart-tariff saving.

What to do before and after the switch

Before switching:

• check whether your meter is SMETS1 or SMETS2 if you can
• check whether it is currently sending automatic readings
• take a photo of the meter reading on the switch date
• keep your old supplier’s final bill and Octopus opening bill for comparison

After switching:

• submit a reading if Octopus asks for one
• check whether the first bill uses actual or estimated readings
• keep sending manual readings if smart readings have not restarted
• contact Octopus if the setup gap turns into repeated estimated bills

For the meter-generation detail, read SMETS1 vs SMETS2 smart meters. For the opening-reading process, read submitting meter readings and your first month with Octopus.

If those checks still point towards Octopus being a good fit, you can use Matt’s referral link when you switch.