SMETS1 or SMETS2? How to Check Your Smart Meter and Upgrade
Check whether your smart meter is SMETS1 or SMETS2 with the Citizens Advice checker, what the SMETS1 upgrade changed, and what to do if yours is not smart.
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Confirmed
- Households in England, Scotland and Wales with a smart meter
- Households whose smart meter stopped sending readings after a switch
Quick answer
Use the Citizens Advice smart meter checker. Choose gas or electricity, enter the meter details from your bill and your postcode, and it tells you whether the meter is first generation (SMETS1) or second generation (SMETS2) and whether it should work in smart mode, including after a switch. DCC says almost all eligible SMETS1 meters have been upgraded. If yours still is not smart, ask your supplier.
Compare tariffs on real readings
Taupia monitors your energy bills and compares tariffs on your own usage. It is free, and nothing switches without your approval.
The quickest way to tell which smart meter you have is the Citizens Advice smart meter checker. It shows whether each meter is first generation (SMETS1) or second generation (SMETS2) and whether it should work in smart mode, including after you switch supplier. The SMETS1 upgrade itself is largely done: DCC, which runs the national smart meter network, says almost all eligible SMETS1 meters have been migrated. Facts below were checked on 15 October 2026.
How can you tell if you have a SMETS1 or SMETS2 meter?
Use the Citizens Advice checker. Choose whether you want to check your gas or electricity meter, then follow the steps. DCC says you need the meter numbers from your meters or a recent bill and your postcode, and that the results page tells you each meter's status and whether it is a first or second-generation model. Check your gas and electricity meters separately.
The checker has limits. Citizens Advice says it can tell you what type of smart meter you have and whether it should work in smart mode, but not whether it is sending readings to your supplier right now. If it cannot find your meter on the network, DCC says it is probably not a smart meter.
Look for the signs of smart mode. DCC lists these:
- your readings are sent to your supplier automatically each month;
- on prepayment, you can top up online;
- you get accurate monthly bills without anyone reading the meter;
- your bill may say in its notes that you have a smart meter;
- you have a wireless in-home display showing your energy use in kWh and its cost.
Check the age. DCC says SMETS2 meters have been the standard for new installations since 2018, so a meter fitted before then is more likely to be SMETS1. Treat that as a clue, not a test.
Ask your supplier. DCC says your supplier can tell you exactly which type of smart meter you have and whether it is working in smart mode.
What is the difference between SMETS1 and SMETS2?
SMETS1 meters were installed before DCC's national smart meter network was available, and some could lose their smart functions, such as automatic readings, when you switched supplier. SMETS2 meters were designed to connect directly to the national network, so they keep working in smart mode when you switch. DCC says the core functions of the two are similar; what differed was how they communicate with suppliers.
Has my SMETS1 meter been upgraded?
Probably. To fix the switching problem, the government set up a programme to enrol SMETS1 meters onto the national network, with DCC coordinating it. DCC says millions of SMETS1 meters were enrolled, that the vast majority of eligible meters have now been migrated, and that it continues to work with suppliers on the rest. Where migration is not possible, it says a supplier may replace the meter with a SMETS2 meter.
The Citizens Advice checker is the place to confirm your own meter's status. If yours has been migrated, DCC says little changes day to day: your in-home display keeps working, and if you have a prepayment meter, topping up carries on as normal. The main difference is that automatic readings should continue when you switch.
What if my meter still is not working in smart mode?
Contact your supplier. DCC says it can advise on the meter's status and whether any further action is needed, which in some cases may mean replacing the meter. Ofgem points to Citizens Advice's steps if your smart meter stops recording or sending readings.
Our guide to what to do when a smart meter stops sending readings covers what your supplier has to do and when compensation applies.
Will an upgrade or a new smart meter cost anything?
No. Ofgem says you can contact your supplier to get a smart meter for free, or book an installation through the Smart Energy GB website. Ofgem lists the benefits as bills based on accurate readings rather than estimates, no need to send readings yourself, up-to-date information on your use, topping up without a shop visit in prepayment mode, and access to more flexible tariffs, including dual-rate tariffs.
What about old Radio Teleswitch meters?
They are not smart meters, but they are often mixed up with them. Ofgem says support for Radio Teleswitch meters has now ended, so if you still have one it may no longer work as expected, and you should contact your supplier to arrange a new smart meter. If yours ran storage heaters or a hot water tank on Economy 7, our guide to storage heaters and Economy 7 in a rented flat covers what to check.
Does it matter before you switch supplier?
It helps. A meter that keeps working in smart mode means your first and last bills are based on real readings rather than estimates, and the checker tells you whether yours should keep working after a switch. Our guide to switching supplier with a smart meter covers the switch itself.
Where Taupia fits
Taupia monitors your energy bills, compares tariffs against your own usage and switches only once you approve. It is free, and it never guarantees a saving.
Key takeaways
- The Citizens Advice smart meter checker shows whether each meter is SMETS1 or SMETS2 and whether it should work in smart mode, including after a switch.
- DCC says SMETS2 has been the standard for new installations since 2018, and that almost all eligible SMETS1 meters have been migrated to its network.
- A migrated meter should work largely as before, including the in-home display and prepayment top-ups.
- If your meter is not in smart mode, your supplier can say whether it needs more work or a replacement.
- Smart meters are free: contact your supplier or book through Smart Energy GB.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if I have a SMETS1 or SMETS2 meter?
Use the Citizens Advice smart meter checker. Choose gas or electricity, enter your meter details and postcode, and it shows the meter type and whether it should work in smart mode, including after a switch. Your supplier can also tell you, and DCC says SMETS2 has been the standard for new installations since 2018.
Do I need to ask for a SMETS1 upgrade?
Usually not. DCC says the vast majority of eligible SMETS1 meters have been migrated to its national network, which lets them keep working in smart mode when you switch supplier. If your meter is not working in smart mode, contact your supplier, which can say whether it needs more work or a replacement.
Will my smart meter stop working if I switch supplier?
A SMETS2 meter, or a SMETS1 meter that has been migrated, should keep sending readings after a switch, according to DCC. The Citizens Advice checker tells you whether your meter should work in smart mode after switching. If readings stop, tell your supplier straight away.
Does the in-home display still work after a SMETS1 upgrade?
Yes. DCC says your smart meter should work largely the same after migration: your in-home display keeps working, and if you have a prepayment meter, topping up and its other functions carry on as normal.
Does a smart meter cost anything?
No. Ofgem says you can contact your supplier to get a smart meter for free, or book an installation through the Smart Energy GB website. Where a SMETS1 meter cannot be migrated to the national network, DCC says your supplier may replace it with a SMETS2 meter.