This guide is for public sector decision makers within local authorities, schools, NHS Trusts, and emergency services. It provides guidance to those working on energy and sustainability projects, broader estates management, and finance.

As well as the wider introductory section, the guide offers frequently asked questions and includes a selection of case studies. The case studies demonstrate how some public sector sites, including schools, the NHS, and housing associations, have improved their energy efficiency and saved on costs through monitoring energy consumption, aided by the availability and access to energy consumption data via a smart meter.

Background

The transition to a more flexible energy system will play a vital role in decarbonising the energy sector and helping to deliver Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. Smart meters are one simple but important step on this journey, and public sector organisations have an opportunity to demonstrate leadership through changes to their own estates.

Smart meters are the newest gas and electricity meters replacing traditional gas and electricity meters across Great Britain as part of an essential infrastructure upgrade, which will make our energy system cheaper, cleaner, and more efficient. They play a critical role in modernising the way we all use energy and are aiding the transformation of the retail market so that it works better for energy consumers, bringing an end to manual meter reads and estimated billing. The half-hourly energy consumption and price data recorded by smart meters is driving new approaches to managing demand. Innovative products such as smart ‘time of use’ tariffs reward organisations for using energy away from peak times and enable technologies such as electric vehicles and smart appliances to be cost-effectively integrated with renewable energy sources.

Many households, small businesses, and smaller public sector sites, including local authorities and schools across Great Britain, are already benefitting from smart meters, allowing them to take control over their energy usage and adapt their behaviours to save money on their energy bills. At the end of 2022, there were 31.3 million smart meters in homes and small businesses and parts of the public sector in Great Britain, of which 1.7 million were in the non-domestic sector making up 52% of all non-domestic meters. Energy suppliers have fixed annual installation targets from January 2022, designed to drive rollout progress.

Public sector organisations have an opportunity to take the lead on the transition to a more flexible and decarbonised energy system. If your organisation would like a smart meter, speak to your energy supplier, framework provider, or third-party intermediary, and they will set the process in motion. Energy suppliers can work in coordination with public sector organisations to plan and manage installations.

FAQs included in the guide

1. What is a smart meter?
2. What is the smart metering mandate?
3. How would I know if I have a smart meter or a traditional analogue meter?
4. What are the benefits of smart meters?
5. Why is the government encouraging public sector organisations to have smart meters?
6. How do I get a smart meter?
7. Is it free to install a smart meter?
8. How long do installations take?
9. Can I arrange installation outside of working hours?
10. Can my organisation have access to our smart meter energy consumption data?

Featured case studies

• Data visibility drives savings: case study of Bedford Borough Council
• Data comparison: case study of West Berkshire Council
• Ending estimated billing: case study of Coventry City Council
• Data insights: case study of Together Housing
• Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council: case study
• Bedford Borough Council: case study
• Croydon Health Services NHS Trust: case study

Going forward

Public sector organisations are realising the benefits from installing smart meters and acting upon the data insights to drive energy reductions, make cost savings, and support energy reporting. Smart meter data has also helped public sector organisations to identify inefficiencies and equipment faults and to increase environmental awareness.

In future, organisations may also benefit from new tariffs, like time of use, which are designed to incentivise them to use more energy at off-peak times, to balance demand. These tariffs charge cheaper rates at certain times of night or day when demand is at its lowest. Innovative new products and services are also appearing on the market that will further support organisations in their understanding and management of energy usage and in developing energy efficiency plans.

Already have an account? Login