Page last updated on 13th October 2026
Smart Meter Replacement for Your Business:
Switch Up. Stay Smart.
Energy suppliers are switching up older smart meter hardware for new kit. It’s essential maintenance that means your business can keep benefiting from accurate bills, automatic meter readings and better visibility of your energy use and costs. When your energy provider gets in touch, Switch Up, Stay Smart.
There's nothing you need to do right now. Your energy provider will contact you.
What is the switch up?
Your energy provider is switching up the hardware that keeps your business smart meter connected.
Your smart meter relies on a device called a communications hub to share its readings with your energy provider. That's how your bills reflect the energy your business uses.
For some businesses, the comms hub is the only part that needs to be replaced. If your smart meter is one of the earliest models, your supplier may replace the whole meter instead.
Your energy supplier takes care of the work, and the visit and any new hardware are at no extra cost to your business. There's no need to book anything yourself. Your energy provider will get in touch if and when your meter is due for maintenance.
My smart meter is working, so why switch up?
Your smart meter may well be working perfectly at the moment. What's changing is that the 2G and 3G mobile signal some earlier smart meter hardware uses to stay connected is being retired across the UK.
Older networks are giving way to newer, more reliable 4G technology. Switching up means you'll keep the benefits your business relies on, like automatic readings, accurate bills and a clear view of energy costs. It's essential maintenance at no extra cost to your business. When your energy provider gets in touch, accept the switch up.
What happens on the day?
Your energy supplier can arrange the visit at a time that works around your trading hours, such as an evening or weekend.
If power needs to go off briefly for safety reasons, your engineer will agree a time with you in advance, so you can plan around your customers and equipment.
If plans change, you can rearrange your appointment. You can also ask a trusted colleague to be on site for the visit if you need to step away.
What you need to do for your business
The good news is you don't need to do anything right now.
Your energy provider will let you know if and when your business needs to switch its older smart meter hardware for new kit. When that happens, there are three steps:
Accept the
appointment
When your provider gets in touch, book a time that
works around your business.
Follow the steps from
your supplier
An engineer carries out the
switch up at no extra cost to
your business.
Switch up.
Stay smart.
Your business keeps its
smart meter benefits
Your energy provider may get in touch by letter, email, phone or text. If you're not sure whether a message is genuine, contact your energy provider directly using the details on their website or your latest bill.
Keep your business's smart meter benefits
Switching up older smart meter hardware means your business keeps all the benefits that come with having a smart meter.
Accurate bills
Your bills are worked out from actual readings, not estimates, so they reflect what your business uses, with fewer disputes to sort out. That stays the same after the switch up.
Automatic readings
Your smart meter automatically sends meter readings to your energy provider, so no one in your business has to spend time taking them or remembering to submit them. After the switch up, that carries on.
Clearer view of your energy costs
Keep seeing how much energy your business uses and what it costs, through your provider's app or online account. That makes budgeting, cash flow and end-of-year planning simpler and more predictable.
What should I do now?
There's nothing you need to do right now.
If and when your older smart meter hardware is due for a switch up, your energy provider will be in touch. Once they've contacted you, accept the appointment and follow their steps so your business keeps all its smart meter benefits.
Why does my business need a
smart meter replacement if our
current meter is working?
Some smart meter hardware currently uses 2G and 3G mobile signal to pass your meter readings to your energy supplier. These networks are being retired and replaced by 4G technology, which is newer and more reliable. This is essential maintenance to protect your meter’s health and ensure your business retains automatic meter readings and accurate billing without interruption.
Will the replacement disrupt
my business operations,
customers, or power supply?
Suppliers can work around your business hours to keep disruption to a minimum, for example evenings or weekends. If a brief power interruption is required for safety during the work, your engineer will agree on a suitable window with you in advance, so your trade, equipment, and customers are not impacted.
Will the switch up
cost my business
anything?
No. The meter maintenance visit and any replacement hardware provided by your energy supplier is at no extra cost to you.
What if I am busy or something
unexpected happens during
our appointment slot?
We understand running a business means plans can change quickly. Energy suppliers offer flexible appointment slots and straightforward rescheduling. You can also nominate a trusted colleague or team member on site to oversee the visit if you need to step away.
How do I know if
my business smart meter
needs an update?
Your energy provider will contact you directly if your meter is due for essential maintenance. Until then, your smart meter will continue working as normal. When your provider does get in touch, simply accept the appointment and follow their instructions.
How does keeping our smart
meter updated benefit my
business long term?
Keeping your smart meter up to date ensures you avoid estimated bills, spend zero time taking manual meter readings, and maintain clear visibility over your energy usage. This makes budgeting and cash flow forecasting simpler and more predictable.
When will my energy
provider contact me?
The switch up is happening gradually, so it'll be a few years before every business has been reached. You'll hear from yours when your meter is due for maintenance, and until then there is nothing you need to do.
When will the 2G and
3G networks be retired?
Mobile network operators across the UK are retiring their 2G and 3G networks over the coming years, with the aim of switching them off completely by the end of 2033. Energy suppliers are working to switch up older meters before that happens.
What happens if our
business doesn't switch up?
Once 2G and 3G networks are retired, your meter could stop working as a smart meter. Someone in your business would have to take meter readings by hand again, and your bills would go back to being estimated rather than based on what you use. Saying yes when your provider contacts you avoids that, at no extra cost to your business.
Is this happening just for businesses?
No. Smart meter hardware is also being switched up in homes as part of the same nationwide programme. If you have a smart meter at home, you may also hear from your energy supplier separately about switching up your household meter. For businesses, your provider will contact you when your business meter needs to be replaced.
Learn more about smart meters for small businesses:
