Smart meters for UK businesses: a practical guide

Smart, AMR and HH — the three 'automated' meter types

For business customers there are three commonly used automated meter types: SMETS2 smart meters (the current rollout standard), AMR (Automated Meter Reads, older but still widespread) and HH (half-hourly, mandatory above 100 kVA).

All three eliminate manual meter reads, though only HH sends full 30-minute interval data.

Benefits for a business

Automated reads mean accurate bills, no estimates, and eligibility for tighter renewal quotes because the supplier isn't pricing risk against unknown usage. You also get access to online consumption dashboards which help identify wasted overnight load.

• Accurate bills — no more estimated reads
• Faster switches and renewals
• Online consumption dashboards for load analysis
• Data for VAT / CCL reviews and Net Zero reporting

How to request a smart / AMR upgrade

Speak to your current supplier — they organise the install at no direct cost to you. Waiting lists can be several months. If you're switching supplier anyway, some suppliers require smart or AMR as a condition of certain tariffs, which is a good moment to combine the two.