Smart Metering

To play our part in supporting the UK’s energy infrastructure, we provide our customers with the opportunity to have a smart meter installed free of charge!
Here at Ruby, we pride ourselves on providing a simple, hassle free installation service that supports our customers and their businesses in becoming energy efficient.

How do smart meters work?

Smart meters are the newest type of gas and electricity meter that the industry has to offer. They work the same way as traditional meters only they have the ability to provide your utility supplier with automatic meter readings, making sure that you don’t have to spend any time reading your own meter and more importantly, accurate bills.

Our role in the smart meter generation

In July 2021, a nation-wide smart meter rollout program was put into place by the UK Government. This program gives suppliers new obligations to follow in the form of annual installation targets, the target is decided by the government and is set at the beginning of each year.

Our installation targets for the fourth scheme year (01 January 2025 – 31 December 2025) are as follows:

Key Benefits

Save time and money
Easy to use
Accurate billing
Become more energy efficient
Help the environment
Contribute to a smarter future
No extra cost

Previous Year Performance

Schema Year	Fuel	Target Number	Number of Smart Metering Systems installed
Year 1 01 January 2022 to 31 December 2022	Electricity	1429	1425
Year 1 01 January 2022 to 31 December 2022	Gas	489	301
Year 2 01 January 2023 – 31 December 2023	Electricity	1690	1872
Year 2 01 January 2023 – 31 December 2023	Gas	582	675
Year 3 01 January 2024 – 31 December 2024	Electricity	0	1178
Year 3 01 January 2024 – 31 December 2024	Gas	632	634

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Energy saving tips for small businesses

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Tips for a Greener Office

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Top Tips to engage employees with energy efficiency

What are the benefits of having a smart meter?

Getting a smart meter installed at your premises has a range of benefits such as:

No more estimated bills
Your smart meter display will provide you with your usage information to help you cut consumption where possible
Helps to fight climate change by reducing waste

For further information on the benefits of smart meters, energy saving tips and much more, click here.

Useful Link

For information about the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, please click here or for information on the industry regulator, Ofgem, please click here.

More information on energy efficiency is available from the Energy Saving Trust and Smart Energy GB.

Smart Meter FAQs

What are the benefits of smart meters?

All Ruby electricity contracts offer a free of charge smart meter to be installed at site where possible.

A smart meter is designed to provide us with accurate, regular information about your energy usage, allowing us to provide accurate invoices and help you to understand your energy usage and ways in which you can save on energy costs.

Are smart meters safe?

According to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), all smart meters have to pass the same safety regulations as any other in-house technology.

Are smart meters accurate?

Smart meters are just as accurate as traditional gas and electricity meters, if not more so. All smart meters undergo a rigorous testing process to ensure they’re compliant with UK and EU legislation.

Do I need to have an internet connection?

You don’t need an internet connection for a smart meter to be able to communicate with your energy supplier. Smart meters communicate through existing mobile or radio signals that are already in your area, once our engineers have completed the installation, you can let your new smart meter do the rest.

Energy Insights

To help you better understand your energy usage and make informed decisions that can reduce consumption, save money, and lower your carbon footprint, we have enhanced our customer portal.

In October 2024, we updated the customer portal with all-new energy usage charts, allowing you to easily track when and how much energy your business is using. You can now view your energy consumption according to your preferred interval whether that is annually, monthly, weekly, or even daily.

To access your consumption information, please ensure you are registered for our customer portal. Once logged in, navigate to the “Your Usage” section to explore the various options available. You can also download the meter readings that contribute to the usage charts if you wish.

This feature is available to all Ruby customers, but to fully benefit from the data we gather from your meter, you will need an advanced metering system, commonly referred to as a smart or AMR meter. Advanced metering systems allow us to collect meter readings more frequently and present this information to you. In simple terms, if we only receive one meter reading from you each month, your usage charts will be quite limited.

Smart Meter Myths, Debunked

Myth 1: You Can’t Switch Suppliers Once You Have a Smart Meter

The reality: This was true back in the early days of smart meters, as your new supplier couldn’t always communicate with the meter, but not anymore. The latest models work with all suppliers. So, if you want to switch, your smart meter will still send automatic readings just as it should. Even the older meters are being upgraded so they’ll keep working when you switch. At Ruby Energy, we install the latest ‘all singing all dancing’ SMETS2 meters to make sure you’re not stuck.

Myth 2: Smart Meters Are a Security Risk

The reality: Let’s put this one to bed. Smart meters are super secure. They don’t use the internet and have their own closed network, which is tightly protected. The only information they send is about your energy use – no personal details or sneaky data sharing. And at Ruby Energy, we’ll always treat your data with care and stick to privacy rules like the Data Protection Act.

Myth 3: Smart Meters Cost a Fortune

The reality: Not with us! At Ruby Energy, we install smart meters for free, and there’s no hidden fees. What’s more, a smart meter can help you spot where your energy is being wasted, so you’ll likely save more money than you’d ever spend. Ruby customers benefit from access to their smart meter data 24/7, simply log in to your portal account and view to your heart’s content.

Myth 4: Smart Meters Are Hard to Use

The reality: Nope! They’re really simple. Smart meters show you real-time info about your energy use on a handy little display.

There’s really no action for you to take. Once we’ve installed your smart meter, sit back and relax knowing we’ll automatically obtain your meter readings and ensure you only pay for the energy your business has used.

You can always review your energy usage on the customer portal, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to figure it out, and if you ever need help, we’ve got your back.

Myth 5: Smart Meters Are Just for Suppliers

The reality: Sure, smart meters help us do our job better, but the real winner here is you. They’ll help you:

See your energy use in real-time, so you can spot ways to cut back.
Only pay for what you actually use – no more estimated bills.
Skip the hassle of manual meter readings.
Get quicker fixes if there’s a power cut, as smart meters can report outages automatically.

Basically, they’re designed to make your life easier.

Myth 6: Smart Meters Are Bad for Your Health

The reality: This is simply not true. Smart meters use radio waves to send data, but the levels are way below international safety limits. They’re far less than what you’d get from your mobile phone or Wi-Fi. So, there’s no need to worry about them messing with your health.

Myth 7: Smart Meters Don’t Work with Renewables

The reality: Actually, they’re a huge help when it comes to renewables. Smart meters give you real-time data about your energy use and production, making it easier to make the most of renewable energy like solar or wind. They’re a key part of building a greener, cleaner energy future.

Myth 8: You’re Forced to Get a Smart Meter

The reality: Not at all. The Government would love for everyone to have one because they’re great for the energy grid and just one way of making Britain greener, but it’s totally your choice. No one can make you get one if you’re not keen. That said, once you see how much they can save you time, money, and hassle, we think you’ll want one anyway!

Radio-Teleswitch Meters

By 30 June 2025, the Radio Teleswitch Service (RTS) will end. The switch-off will affect energy customers who have an RTS meter in their homes and businesses and may mean that their heating and hot water supply stops functioning as normal.

What is the Radio Teleswitch Service?

RTS was introduced in the 1980s and is now reaching the end of its natural operational life. This means that the equipment that produces the radio signal can’t be adequately maintained anymore. RTS uses a radio signal to instruct some traditional multi-rate meters when to switch between peak and off-peak rates. It’s important that we work with all affected customers in a timely manner to ensure that services are not affected.

Next Steps

If you have an RTS meter, we will be in touch with you to arrange an upgrade to a smart meter, free of charge. Until we contact you, you don’t need to do anything.