SMETS2 Smart Meters: A Complete UK Householder's Guide for 2026
A complete UK guide to SMETS2 smart meters: how the DCC network works, the hardware suppliers fit for free, and what to expect on installation day.
SMETS2 Smart Meters: A Complete UK Householder’s Guide for 2026
If your energy supplier has been in touch about a meter upgrade, understanding what a SMETS2 smart meter is — and, crucially, what to expect on the day — takes much of the uncertainty out of the process. Unlike most home technology, you cannot buy a SMETS2 (Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specifications, second generation) meter off the shelf. Households cannot purchase, choose, or specify a particular meter model. Instead, energy suppliers select and install these meters free of charge under their Ofgem licence obligations.
This guide reframes the SMETS2 landscape from a consumer’s perspective: what the technology does, which hardware is currently being deployed across the UK, how the underlying networks function, and the real-world installation pain points you should prepare for.
Quick Picks: Commonly Installed SMETS2 Hardware
Because households cannot shop for specific meter models, the “picks” below represent the hardware most commonly deployed by major UK suppliers. Your allocation depends entirely on your supplier’s procurement contracts.
| Meter Model | Typically Installed By | Key Characteristic |
|---|---|---|
| Landis+Gyr E470 | British Gas, EDF, E.ON | Widely deployed electricity meter across multiple major suppliers. |
| Kaifa MA130 / MA120 | Octopus Energy, OVO | Commonly fitted electricity meter, frequently paired with Octopus and OVO installations. |
| Secure Liberty 100 | Multiple suppliers | Frequently paired gas meter used alongside various electricity meters. |
How to Choose (Or Rather, What to Expect)
When booking a SMETS2 installation, you do not select the hardware. However, understanding the components involved helps you anticipate potential installation hurdles and make the most of the smart-meter ecosystem.
The DCC Network (WAN)
A SMETS2 meter does not rely on your home Wi-Fi or a consumer mobile network to send readings to your supplier. Instead, it uses the Data Communications Company (DCC) managed network. This Wide Area Network (WAN) is operated by two Communications Service Providers under contract with the DCC. In the South and Central regions of Great Britain, the WAN uses Telefónica (O2) 2G/3G/4G cellular infrastructure. In the North and Central regions, it relies on Arqiva long-range radio. There is no 5G involvement in the DCC WAN. Because this infrastructure is centrally managed and independent of any single energy supplier, your meter retains its smart functionality when you switch providers — a core advantage over the older first-generation SMETS1 standard.
The Home Area Network (HAN)
Inside your property, the meter communicates with your In-Home Display (IHD) using a Home Area Network (HAN). The HAN operates on the Zigbee Smart Energy Profile (SEP) 1.2b standard at 868 MHz. These specifications represent one unified standard, not two separate technologies. The 868 MHz frequency is chosen for its ability to penetrate building materials, though it is not infallible in particularly thick-walled UK properties.
Gas Meter Communications
Your gas meter is battery-powered and lacks a mains connection. To transmit readings, it uses a Gas Communications Node (GCN). This node uses Zigbee to relay data wirelessly to your electricity meter’s communications hub, which then forwards the combined data to the DCC WAN.
Communications Hubs
The communications hub is the central brain that bridges your HAN and the WAN. There are two main DCC-approved comms hub variants: the Toshiba CHIL and the Arqiva SMIP. The specific hub fitted depends on your geographical region and the corresponding WAN provider. To address 868 MHz signal penetration issues in thick-walled properties, dual-band comms hubs — which also support 2.4 GHz Zigbee — are being rolled out to provide a stronger alternative frequency where the standard signal struggles.
Commonly Installed SMETS2 Models
Landis+Gyr E470
Best for: Broad supplier interoperability (commonly installed by British Gas, EDF, and E.ON).
The Landis+Gyr E470 is one of the most widely deployed SMETS2 electricity meters in the UK. As a standard single-phase smart electricity meter, it is designed to integrate seamlessly with the DCC network, regardless of whether your supplier uses the Telefónica cellular WAN or the Arqiva long-range radio WAN. Its prevalence across British Gas, EDF, and E.ON means that support technicians at these suppliers are highly familiar with its diagnostics and firmware behaviour. The meter pairs with a supplier-provided communications hub (either a Toshiba CHIL or Arqiva SMIP, depending on your region) and an In-Home Display.
Standout strength: Its ubiquity across three of the largest major suppliers ensures robust remote diagnostic support and straightforward interoperability when switching between those providers.
Honest caveat: As with all SMETS2 meters, the E470’s performance is entirely dependent on the signal strength of the DCC WAN in your specific location and the HAN’s ability to reach your gas meter.
Verdict: A workhorse of the smart meter rollout that households are likely to encounter frequently, offering reliable performance backed by broad supplier familiarity.
Where to buy: Not available for retail purchase. Installed free of charge by British Gas, EDF, and E.ON under their Ofgem rollout obligations.
Kaifa MA130 / MA120
Best for: Households supplied by Octopus Energy or OVO.
The Kaifa MA130 and its variant, the MA120, are electricity meters frequently installed by Octopus Energy and OVO. These meters operate on the exact same SMETS2 technical specifications as their counterparts from other manufacturers, communicating via the 868 MHz Zigbee HAN and the DCC-managed WAN. For households on specialist tariffs that require precise, frequent data — such as Octopus Agile or EDF GoElectric — the Kaifa meters reliably transmit the half-hourly consumption data required to make those time-of-use tariffs function correctly. The meter works in conjunction with a DCC-approved comms hub and relays data to a paired IHD.
Standout strength: Deep integration with the specific smart-tariff infrastructures of Octopus and OVO, ensuring households on innovative time-of-use tariffs receive accurate, timely data.
Honest caveat: Some owner consensus on MoneySavingExpert forums suggests that firmware updates for Kaifa hardware can occasionally lag slightly behind Landis+Gyr equipment, though this does not typically affect day-to-day metering.
Verdict: An excellent, dependable SMETS2 meter, particularly well-suited to households leveraging modern time-of-use energy tariffs.
Where to buy: Not available for retail purchase. Installed free of charge by Octopus Energy and OVO under their Ofgem rollout obligations.
Secure Liberty 100 (Gas)
Best for: Gas metering across multiple suppliers.
The Secure Liberty 100 is a SMETS2 gas meter frequently paired with the Landis+Gyr and Kaifa electricity meters mentioned above across multiple suppliers. Because a gas meter has no access to mains power, the Secure Liberty 100 is battery-powered. It transmits its readings via a Gas Communications Node (GCN) using the 868 MHz Zigbee Smart Energy Profile 1.2b standard. The GCN relays the gas consumption data to the electricity meter’s communications hub, which acts as the central gateway for both utilities.
Standout strength: As a dedicated gas meter, it is designed specifically for the low-power constraints of battery operation, efficiently managing its energy use to ensure long-term transmission to the comms hub.
Honest caveat: Because it relies on a wireless signal to reach the electricity meter’s comms hub, it is the component most likely to suffer from signal dropouts in properties where the gas and electricity meters are located far apart or separated by thick walls.
Verdict: A standard, reliable gas metering component that fulfils the SMETS2 requirement for wireless, battery-powered gas consumption reporting.
Where to buy: Not available for retail purchase. Supplied and fitted free of charge alongside electricity meters by multiple energy suppliers.
Chameleon IHD6
Best for: Households wanting a clear, modern visual display of energy use.
While you cannot buy the meter itself, the In-Home Display (IHD) is the part of the SMETS2 ecosystem you interact with daily. The Chameleon IHD6 is a commonly deployed smart display that pairs with your communications hub over the 868 MHz HAN. It shows real-time electricity and gas consumption in pounds and pence, kilowatt-hours, and carbon emissions. Under Ofgem rules, suppliers cannot charge separately for the IHD; it is included as part of the free SMETS2 installation. The Chameleon IHD6 must be paired within HAN range, which is typically around 30 metres, though signal drops have been reported in larger properties or those with dense internal walls.
Standout strength: Provides an accessible, real-time translation of raw energy data into immediate financial costs, helping households identify and reduce wasteful consumption habits.
Honest caveat: The display relies entirely on its proximity to the comms hub; in larger homes, you may find the IHD loses its connection if moved too far from the meter cupboard.
Verdict: A highly capable and user-friendly display that brings the abstract data of a SMETS2 smart meter into clear, actionable focus for the consumer.
Where to buy: Not sold directly to consumers as a standalone unit in the context of a supplier installation. Provided free of charge by energy suppliers during the SMETS2 fitting process. (Third-party IHDs are generally not compatible with the DCC HAN).
Geo Trio II
Best for: Users seeking an alternative IHD interface with clear traffic-light consumption indicators.
The Geo Trio II is another In-Home Display frequently supplied by energy companies alongside SMETS2 installations. Like the Chameleon unit, it connects via the Zigbee Smart Energy Profile 1.2b HAN at 868 MHz and is provided at no additional cost to the householder. The Geo Trio II features a colour-coded display that uses traffic-light indicators (green, amber, red) to give an immediate visual cue of current electricity and gas consumption levels. It displays historical usage data, allowing households to compare their consumption across days, weeks, and months.
Standout strength: The intuitive traffic-light system offers an instantaneous, at-a-glance understanding of whether current household consumption is high, medium, or low, without needing to read specific numbers.
Honest caveat: As with all IHDs on the SMETS2 network, it is locked to the specific communications hub it was paired with during installation and cannot easily be replaced with a consumer-bought alternative if it fails outside of the supplier’s warranty period.
Verdict: A user-friendly, visually oriented display that makes monitoring daily energy habits straightforward and accessible for all household members.
Where to buy: Provided free of charge by energy suppliers during the SMETS2 installation. Not available for independent retail purchase for use on the DCC network.
Installation Pain Points and UK Practical Notes
Power Isolation
During a SMETS2 installation, your electricity must be isolated while the old meter is removed and the new one is wired in. Householders should expect typically around 30 to 60 minutes of downtime. It is advisable to ensure devices are charged and fridges/freezers are kept shut during this window.
Alt HAN (Alternative Home Area Network)
In properties with thick stone walls or where the gas meter is located in a separate outbuilding, the standard 868 MHz Zigbee signal may not reliably reach from the gas meter to the electricity meter’s comms hub. In these scenarios, suppliers are obligated under the Smart Energy Code (SEC) to fit an Alt HAN (Alternative Home Area Network) device to bridge the gap. However, owner reports on MoneySavingExpert forums frequently cite Alt HAN installations as being significantly delayed, often requiring a follow-up visit and specialised equipment that is in shorter supply than standard meters.
Data Collection and Privacy
Under SMETS2 data access rules (Smart Energy Code, Section H), half-hourly data collection is the default setting. However, householders retain the right to opt down to daily or monthly data collection if they prefer not to have their consumption tracked in such granular detail. You can change this preference at any time by contacting your supplier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose which SMETS2 smart meter is installed in my home?
No. Households cannot purchase or choose a specific meter model. Energy suppliers select and install the meters free of charge under their Ofgem licence obligations. The model you receive (such as a Landis+Gyr E470 or Kaifa MA130) depends entirely on your supplier’s current procurement contracts.
Does a SMETS2 smart meter use my home Wi-Fi?
No. SMETS2 meters do not use your home broadband or Wi-Fi. They communicate via a centrally managed DCC network. In the South and Central regions, this uses Telefónica (O2) 2G/3G/4G cellular infrastructure, while the North and Central regions use Arqiva long-range radio. Your home internet connection is not required for the meter to function.
Will I lose power during the installation?
Yes, there will be a temporary interruption to your electricity supply. The power must be isolated while the physical meter is swapped, which typically takes around 30 to 60 minutes. Your gas supply is not physically interrupted during the gas meter exchange, though the gas meter will be offline while the new one is commissioned.
What happens if the smart meter signal cannot reach my gas meter?
If the standard 868 MHz Zigbee signal cannot reliably reach your gas meter — common in properties with thick stone walls or separate outbuildings — your supplier is obligated under the SEC to fit an Alt HAN (Alternative Home Area Network) device. Community consensus on MoneySavingExpert forums indicates these installations are frequently subject to delays, so it is worth discussing potential signal issues with your supplier before booking the installation.
Do I have to let my supplier collect my data every half hour?
No. While half-hourly data collection is the default setting for SMETS2 meters, you retain the right to opt down to daily or monthly data collection under the SMETS2 data access rules (Smart Energy Code, Section H). You can set or change this preference by contacting your energy supplier.
Is the In-Home Display (IHD) an extra cost?
No. Under Ofgem regulations, suppliers cannot charge separately for the IHD. It is provided free of charge as part of the SMETS2 installation. Common models include the Chameleon IHD6 and the Geo Trio II, both of which connect to your meter via the 868 MHz Home Area Network.
