0

Cost to install

Funded via standing charges

SMETS2

Meter generation

Interoperable across suppliers

~2 hrs

Install time

Per dual-fuel appointment

0333 202 9802

Smart meter line

Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

What is a British Gas smart meter?

A smart meter is a digital gas or electricity meter that sends meter readings to your supplier automatically, over the dedicated DCC (Data Communications Company) network. British Gas has installed more than 10 million smart meters across Great Britain as part of the government-mandated rollout that began in 2011 and now runs to the end of 2025 for large suppliers, with installation continuing on demand afterwards.

Every British Gas smart-meter installation now ships SMETS2 hardware - the second generation specified by Ofgem. SMETS2 meters are fully interoperable: if you switch energy supplier later, the meter keeps its smart functionality and the new supplier continues to receive your reads automatically.

What comes with a British Gas smart meter

  • One gas smart meter and/or one electricity smart meter (depending on what you have) ;
  • A free in-home display (IHD) showing live consumption in £ and kWh ;
  • Automatic half-hourly or daily reads sent to British Gas (you choose the frequency) ;
  • Bills based on actual consumption, no more estimates ;
  • Smart prepayment mode for Pay As You Go customers, with online and app top-ups.
The in-home display is yours to keep and works with any UK supplier. Lost or broken IHDs can normally be replaced free of charge for the first 12 months after installation, then for a small fee.

Who can get a British Gas smart meter?

Any British Gas domestic energy customer can request a free smart meter, including credit, direct debit and Pay As You Go accounts. HomeCare-only customers (no energy supply with British Gas) are not eligible - you would need to switch your supply to British Gas first.

How to book a smart-meter installation

  1. Sign in to your British Gas My Account ;
  2. Open Smart meter → Book an installation ;
  3. Pick a date and a 2-hour or 4-hour time slot ;
  4. Confirm by SMS or email - you will get a reminder 24 hours before.

Prefer to call? Phone 0333 202 9802 (Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sat 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and say “smart meter” at the prompt. Waiting times for an engineer slot are normally two to six weeks depending on demand in your area.

Pre-payment customers and smart meters

If you are on the British Gas Pay As You Go tariff, switching from a traditional key/card meter to a smart meter in prepayment mode unlocks online top-ups, Apple Pay and Google Pay through the British Gas app, and a live credit balance on the IHD. You no longer have to visit a Payzone outlet or Post Office to add credit - although you still can. Full instructions are in our dedicated British Gas top-up guide.

Installation day: what to expect

A British Gas smart-meter installation usually takes around two hours for a dual-fuel home. Power is off for roughly 20 minutes per fuel while the engineer swaps the meter and commissions the new device on the DCC network.

Before the engineer arrives

  • Make sure the meter cupboard and area around the boiler are accessible ;
  • If the meter is in a locked cupboard or basement, have the keys ready ;
  • Note your final read on the old meter so you can spot-check the closing reading ;
  • Turn off non-essential appliances - they will lose power during the changeover ;
  • An adult aged 18+ must be present for the whole appointment.

What the engineer does (step by step)

1

On the way

You get a text or call from the engineer ; pop pets in another room and unlock the meter cupboard.

2

ID check

The engineer shows a Gas Safe and electrical-installer card. Always check the photo matches.

3

Old meter out

Power is isolated and the old meter removed. About 20 minutes off per fuel - keep medical devices charged.

4

SMETS2 in & commissioned

The new meter is fitted, paired with the DCC and your final read is recorded ; supply restored.

5

IHD walkthrough

You get a quick demo of the in-home display, a printed install summary and any settings you need.

After installation

Your first smart bill should land within a few weeks and will be based on actual reads. The IHD shows usage in near real time (electricity refreshes every ~10 seconds; gas refreshes every ~30 minutes). You can change reading frequency between monthly, daily and half-hourly in your British Gas account at any time.

Benefits and trade-offs of a British Gas smart meter

Advantages

  • Free to install, free to keep, free IHD
  • Bills based on real usage, no more estimates or end-of-year shocks
  • Live spend visible on the IHD - useful for budgeting
  • SMETS2 keeps its smart status if you switch supplier
  • Unlocks online and app top-ups for Pay As You Go customers
  • Eligible for smart tariffs (off-peak, EV, time-of-use) that traditional meters cannot use

Disadvantages

  • Two-hour appointment with power off for around 20 minutes per fuel
  • Older SMETS1 meters can briefly lose smart status until DCC enrolment completes
  • Rural homes with weak mobile coverage can have intermittent comms
  • IHD takes up a plug and a small amount of counter space
  • Half-hourly reads are opt-in but disclose detailed consumption patterns

Troubleshooting common British Gas smart-meter issues

My in-home display is blank or not showing usage

The IHD pairs with the meter over a short-range wireless connection. If it is blank or stuck, try the steps below in order:

  1. Check the power cable - is it firmly in the socket and switched on? ;
  2. Replace the batteries with fresh ones (some IHDs work on battery only) ;
  3. Move the IHD closer to the meter (within a few metres) ;
  4. Unplug the IHD for 30 seconds, then plug it back in ;
  5. If still blank after a week, call British Gas on 0333 202 9802 for a replacement.

Red or orange triangle on the IHD

A triangle simply means you have unread alerts from British Gas. Press Menu → Alerts, use the arrow keys to read each one, then select Delete. The triangle clears when no unread alerts remain.

My smart meter is no longer sending readings

SMETS2 meters communicate over the dedicated WAN run by the DCC. Coverage gaps - especially in rural or remote homes - can cause occasional dropouts. British Gas can usually push a network reset remotely. If readings are still missing after a week, call 0333 202 9802 and have your customer reference number (starts with 85) ready.

First-generation (SMETS1) meter lost smart status after a switch

SMETS1 meters fitted before mid-2018 sometimes drop smart functionality when you change supplier. Practically all SMETS1 meters were migrated to the DCC network during 2021-2023, restoring their smart status. If yours is still in “dumb” mode, ask British Gas to confirm the meter has been enrolled. In the meantime, submit manual readings online to keep your bills accurate.

The British Gas app for smart-meter customers

The free British Gas app (iOS and Android) extends the IHD experience to your phone. With a smart meter linked to your account you can:

  • See usage broken down by day, week and month ;
  • Compare consumption with similar households in your area ;
  • Set spend alerts and a personal weekly budget ;
  • Get appliance-level insights (which heat-source uses the most) ;
  • Top up a smart Pay As You Go meter with Apple Pay or Google Pay ;
  • Submit non-smart meter readings or view smart history ;
  • Manage HomeCare appointments and direct debits.

Download links: App Store · Google Play.

British Gas smart-meter contact

British Gas smart-meter contact channels in 2026
Reason for contactNumber / channelHours
Book / amend a smart-meter install0333 202 9802 (Option 1)Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. / Sat 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Pay As You Go smart meter support0330 100 0303Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
General British Gas account0330 100 0056Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gas Emergency line0800 111 99924/7, free, all UK suppliers

For other British Gas contact channels - email, live chat, Welsh-language line, Relay UK - see our full British Gas contact page.

British Gas smart meter - frequently asked questions

Yes. There is no upfront fee for the meter or for the engineer visit. Smart-meter installation is funded across the industry through everyone's standing charges, regardless of whether you have one fitted.

Yes, for SMETS2 meters. They run on the shared DCC network, so any UK supplier can read them. If you have a first-generation SMETS1 meter, it has almost certainly been migrated to the DCC by now and will keep smart functionality after a switch.

About two hours for a dual-fuel home. Power is off for around 20 minutes per fuel while the engineer swaps each meter and commissions the new device.

No. The government rollout requires suppliers to offer a smart meter, not customers to accept one. You can decline, and British Gas must keep supplying you on a traditional meter. You may be locked out of certain smart-only tariffs (off-peak, EV, time-of-use) without one.

Yes. British Gas runs smart meters in prepayment mode for PAYG customers, unlocking online and app top-ups, Apple Pay and Google Pay support, and live credit balance on the IHD. See our British Gas Pay As You Go guide for the full process.

It indicates one or more unread alerts from British Gas. Press Menu, choose Alerts, read each one and then Delete. The triangle clears when no unread alerts remain. It is not an error.

No. The unit rate and standing charge are set by your tariff, not the meter. Some customers do see bills go up after a smart-meter install, but only because estimated readings were previously too low - real consumption was always being used, just billed late.

No - the meter belongs to the property, not the customer. The smart meter stays at the address; the new occupier inherits it. Take a final reading on moving day and arrange your closing bill with British Gas.

Book your free smart-meter install

Two-hour appointment, free SMETS2 hardware, free in-home display.

Call 0333 202 9802 See BG tariffs

Further reading

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