SMETS1 vs SMETS2 smart meters

Smart meters come in two generations, and the difference between them matters far more than you’d think. If you’ve ever switched energy supplier and had your smart meter “go dumb,” the generation of your meter is almost certainly why.

What the names mean

SMETS1 stands for Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications, first generation. These were the early smart meters, installed roughly between 2012 and 2018 during the initial phase of the UK smart meter rollout.

SMETS2 is the second generation, installed from around 2018 onwards. All new smart meter installations today use SMETS2 equipment.

The numbers refer to the technical standard the meter was built to, not a model name. There are many different physical meter models within each generation.

What actually matters

SMETS1 meters were designed to communicate directly with the supplier who installed them. They used a proprietary communication link between the meter and that specific supplier’s systems. When everything worked, it worked well. The problem came when you switched supplier.

Because the communication link was tied to the original supplier, switching to a new supplier often broke the connection. The meter itself kept recording your usage accurately, but it stopped sending readings remotely. Your in-home display went blank. From a functionality standpoint, your smart meter became a traditional meter that you had to read manually.

SMETS2 meters take a different approach. Instead of talking directly to your supplier, they communicate through the DCC (Data Communications Company), a national shared network. The DCC acts as a central hub. When you switch supplier, your new supplier simply connects to your meter through the DCC. No communication link breaks. The meter keeps sending readings, your in-home display keeps working and you won’t notice a thing.

How to tell which you have

There are a few ways to check:

• Check your supplier’s app: Many suppliers show your meter type in the account or meter details section. The Octopus app shows this under account settings.
• Look at the installation date: If your smart meter was installed before 2019, it’s very likely SMETS1. After 2019, almost certainly SMETS2.
• Check the meter itself: The meter model number is printed on the front. You can search the model number online to confirm the SMETS generation.
• Ask your supplier: A quick message to customer service and they’ll tell you.

The SMETS1 enrolment programme

The government recognised that millions of SMETS1 meters losing smart functionality every time someone switched was a significant problem. The solution was a large-scale migration programme that enrols SMETS1 meters onto the DCC network, effectively giving them the same always-connected behaviour as SMETS2 meters.

This programme is now largely complete. By early 2026, roughly 12 million of the 14 million SMETS1 meters in Britain had been migrated. Once a meter is enrolled, it behaves like a SMETS2 meter for all practical purposes. It sends readings through the DCC, keeps working when you switch and supports smart tariff features.

A small number of SMETS1 meters remain unmigrated, typically older or less common models that proved technically difficult to enrol. If yours is one of them, your supplier will usually offer a free SMETS2 replacement rather than waiting for enrolment. Octopus has a good track record here and will arrange a meter exchange at no cost.

Does it affect your tariff options?

Yes, and this is the practical reason to care about your meter type.

Octopus’s smart tariffs (Agile, Go, Intelligent Go, Cosy, Tracker, Flux) all require a working smart meter that sends half-hourly readings. If your SMETS1 meter hasn’t been enrolled and can’t communicate through the DCC, you won’t be able to access these tariffs until the meter is either enrolled or replaced.

The standard Flexible tariff works fine without smart functionality. You just submit manual readings.

If you’re switching specifically to get onto a smart tariff and you know you have an unenrolled SMETS1 meter, it’s worth contacting Octopus before you switch. They’ll typically recommend a free meter exchange (replacing the SMETS1 with a SMETS2) since the enrolment programme has wound down for most meter types. The exchange typically takes 30 to 60 minutes.

Should you request a replacement?

If your SMETS1 meter has been enrolled and is working properly through the DCC, there’s no technical reason to replace it. It does the job.

If it hasn’t been enrolled, requesting a SMETS2 replacement is the simplest path forward. Octopus installs smart meters for free, and a fresh SMETS2 meter will work reliably for years without any of the compatibility concerns.

The same applies if you’re moving into a property with a dumb meter (whether that’s an old analogue meter or a SMETS1 that lost its smart functionality). You can request a free smart meter installation from Octopus once your account is set up.