Can I be forced to have a smart meter?

EssexHebridean

@TimeLord1 It. Ight be a good idea to use the multi quote function when you want to reply to several people at once - making repeated posts one after the other on a thread when they could be combined into a single response is seen by many as a breach of forum etiquette - it clutters the thread, makes it harder for the OP to find anything actually helpful to them, and is often also used by those with the inclination as a way of “post-building” - making their account appear to be more long standing and so trustworthy than it really is - this may be leading to you having posts reported to the forum team.


in Summary though
- yes you can essentially be forced to have a smart meter if your existing meter is end of life and requires replacing. The meters available to fit now are current, up to date models as one might expect - you wouldn’t go to buy a new computer and expect to be offered a ZX Spectrum and a cassette recorder, would you! If a meter replacement is required, the supplier will expect to fit current technology.

- Dumb mode is a bit of a misnomer and one industry expert who used to post here explained that in fact it didn’t exist in the way people imagined anyway - you could ask your supplier not to do anything with the readings that were sent, but why would you want to? (They also have the right to refuse your request)
- Smart meters are not scary or harmful. Those who attempt to suggest that they are are the harmful ones - peddling misinformation purely to attempt to make others, usually the vulnerable, worried or anxious. Not pleasant behaviour, and should be called out and if seen on a platform which is responsible enough to have a “report misinformation” option, reported. 

WiserMiser

EssexHebridean said:

- Dumb mode is a bit of a misnomer and one industry expert who used to post here explained that in fact it didn’t exist in the way people imagined anyway - you could ask your supplier not to do anything with the readings that were sent, 

Yes, you're right, there's no such thing as Dumb Mode, it's just sleight of hand. That was noted by the highly knowledgeable and sadly missed @Dolor who was banned for some inexplicable reason.  🤔

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80320924/#Comment_80320924

When allegedly dumb, the SM won't transmit any meter readings, but its comms hub will remain active, so it will receive and implement all commands that may be sent to it.

These include Surge Pricing, Block Tariffs (pence/kWh rate increases with higher usage) and Load Limiting (rationing by temporary disconnection if you ignore a maximum kW limit imposed when the grid can't meet peak demand, e.g. it's dark and calm, hence no generation from solar and wind farms).

TimeLord1

EssexHebridean said:

@TimeLord1 It. Ight be a good idea to use the multi quote function when you want to reply to several people at once - making repeated posts one after the other on a thread when they could be combined into a single response is seen by many as a breach of forum etiquette - it clutters the thread, makes it harder for the OP to find anything actually helpful to them, and is often also used by those with the inclination as a way of “post-building” - making their account appear to be more long standing and so trustworthy than it really is - this may be leading to you having posts reported to the forum team.


in Summary though
- yes you can essentially be forced to have a smart meter if your existing meter is end of life and requires replacing. The meters available to fit now are current, up to date models as one might expect - you wouldn’t go to buy a new computer and expect to be offered a ZX Spectrum and a cassette recorder, would you! If a meter replacement is required, the supplier will expect to fit current technology.

- Dumb mode is a bit of a misnomer and one industry expert who used to post here explained that in fact it didn’t exist in the way people imagined anyway - you could ask your supplier not to do anything with the readings that were sent, but why would you want to? (They also have the right to refuse your request)
- Smart meters are not scary or harmful. Those who attempt to suggest that they are are the harmful ones - peddling misinformation purely to attempt to make others, usually the vulnerable, worried or anxious. Not pleasant behaviour, and should be called out and, if seen on a platform that is responsible enough to have a “report misinformation” option, reported. 

I was going to apologize to the OP for the hijacked thread derailment, but it seems they posted this in 2020. 🧐 Oh well, never mind. I'm aware of the functions; it's just time is often lacking for editing other people's posts to crop and respond. Someone will probably lock this now. Be lucky!

Ildhund

QrizB said:.
.. as of February 2024, there was no entitlement to have a smart meter installed in "dumb mode" and the advice from CAB to the contrary was incorrect, ...

Not just CAB. Apparently MSE is still suggesting in December 2025 that it's possible: Can I refuse a smart meter?
  

TimeLord1

Ildhund said:

QrizB said:.
.. as of February 2024, there was no entitlement to have a smart meter installed in "dumb mode" and the advice from CAB to the contrary was incorrect, ...

Not just CAB. Apparently MSE is still suggesting in December 2025 that it's possible: Can I refuse a smart meter?
  

I wonder if those two listed on that news article can add anything to update on what is and isn't up to date and current legislation. 

Qyburn

TimeLord1 said:

I wonder if those two listed on that news article can add anything to update on what is and isn't up to date and current legislation. 

Other way round I think, they would benefit from reading and learning from this thread.

TimeLord1

Qyburn said:

TimeLord1 said:

I wonder if those two listed on that news article can add anything to update on what is and isn't up-to-date and current legislation. 

The other way round, I think; they would benefit from reading and learning from this thread.

I think first they have to be aware of the  differences of opinion on the topic. Unsure if you can contact these via MSE App maybe 🤔 

QrizB

TimeLord1 said:

Qyburn said:

TimeLord1 said:

I wonder if those two listed on that news article can add anything to update on what is and isn't up-to-date and current legislation. 

The other way round, I think; they would benefit from reading and learning from this thread.

I think first they have to be aware of the  differences of opinion on the topic. Unsure if you can contact these via MSE App maybe 🤔 

There's a link at the bottom of every page of the main MSE site:

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/site-contacts/

If you really want to contact the article's authors, maybe try that?

QrizB

TimeLord1 said:

... not sure why they don't have direct message contacts in their profiles. 

Probably because they don't want to be contacted by the great unwashed at weekends!

You seem to be on a bit of a mission over this. Maybe give it a bit of time?

BobHUK

Hello, I wonder if any of you people who seem to have explicit information on this subject can give me some definitive advice?

I have an old mechanical electric meter that was in the house when I bought it back in January 1987. The meter is an Actaris/Schlum/Sangamo/Itron S200.16, and it's certification duration was 45 years. On the front of the meter it says that it was certified in 12 1980, which I assume means it was certified in December 1980.

That would explain why I recently received an email from Octopus Energy telling me that the certification period has expired and they need to renew the meter.

So my questions are as follows:

1. If I choose to buy a new meter and have it installed, that has the CE MID mark (which means that it's certification does not run out), can I do that?
2. If Octopus Energy say they don't agree to me having a CE MID meter installed, can I switch to another supplier that will allow me to have the new meter fitted and then have it fitted by an electrician of my choosing?

I know you'll think I'm a dinosaur for not wanting to have a smart meter in my house, but I'm an old man (75) and my wife is getting on as well (70), and we don't want to be bullied by anyone into having something neither of us wants or trusts.

According to the CAB website as of today (04/02/2026 at 20:16pm) the following is their current advice.

Refusing a smart meter

You don’t have to accept a smart meter if you don’t want one. If your supplier tells you that you must have one installed, contact the citizens advice helpline.

If you refuse a smart meter, you might find it hard to access all tariffs. This is because in future the cheaper tariffs offered by suppliers might only be available to customers with smart meters.

You can ask your supplier to install your smart meter with the extra functionality switched off. This means it’ll work in the same way as your current meter, and won’t send any information to your supplier. Contact your supplier to check if they can do this.

If your supplier tells you your meter has expired and needs replacing with a smart meter, it’s worth checking before you agree.

If you need to replace your old-style meter because it’s unsafe, you might not be able to refuse a smart meter. This is because not many old-style meters are made now - your supplier might not have any in stock.

If you’re having your electricity meter replaced with a smart meter, you could consider having your gas meter replaced with a smart gas meter at the same time.

So are the CAB incorrect, and if so, what is the legal position? As far as I can see, our current electric meter is not unsafe, but if we do have to have a new meter, I'd prefer to buy my own that has the CE MID mark, and have it installed by a proper electrician whom I choose to do the work.