Our smart meter campaign The smart meter challenge
We're asking all the energy companies to accept our smart challenge – to just install smart meters without selling extra products and services.
No selling, just installing
The government wants every home to have a smart meter by 2020 – that means an energy company will contact you to set up a time, and then come round to install your meter. We don't want the companies to use this opportunity to sell you products and services that you haven't asked for. Instead they should be concentrating on installing your meter quickly, efficiently and safely.
Who has accepted the smart challenge?
A number of companies have already signed up to the challenge. They are:
Npower
'We want to continue to build a trusted partnership with customers and think that the Which? challenge is a great way of displaying our commitment, sending a clear signal that we're focused on delivering a quick, efficient and safe smart meter installation to customers.'
Co-operative Energy
'We are pleased to sign up to the Which? smart meter promise. We think it is important that consumers have complete confidence in the smart meter roll-out programme, which will bring big benefits to consumers and to the UK's lower carbon economy. We think cross-selling other services as part of the smart meter installation is inappropriate and could damage the integrity of this important national initiative.'
First Utility
'We are continually striving to maintain our innovative and challenger position in the energy industry and we see this partnership with Which? as a key way to show our commitment to doing just that. As the first UK energy supplier to roll out smart metering to all of our customers, we feel passionately about the benefits of smart metering. By committing to Which?'s smart meter promise we hope it will give even more people the confidence they need to embrace the benefits of smart metering.'
The Utility Warehouse
'The Utility Warehouse will sign up to your 'no selling, just installing' smart meter promise. Without the promise, we are concerned there may be a real risk of vulnerable customers being sold additional products they may not need or even switched to a new supplier without fully understanding the implications, and paying more for their energy as a result.'
Ovo Energy
'Ovo energy fully supports a commitment to treating customers fairly. Energy companies have a long way to go to rebuild trust with the public. We should be putting customers first in the smart meter roll-out, not treating it as a sales opportunity.'
Good Energy
'Good Energy believes that smart metering has the potential to be of great benefit to consumers, and we're proud of our high ethical standards. So we're committed to 'no selling, just installing' – because we believe that customers are entitled to expect a hassle-free visit from their smart meter installer.'
Ecotricity
Spark
'We are very enthusiastic about smart meters and the benefits they will bring to consumers and welcome the Which? campaign.'
Opus Energy
'Opus Energy is pleased to sign up to Which?'s smart meter promise. As the first energy company to make smart meters available to our customers, for free, we understand and are committed to promoting smart meter benefits. We want customers to have confidence in the smart meter roll-out programme and believe they are entitled to a hassle-free installation process.'
Green Energy UK
'We are very happy to sign up to the Which? 'no selling, just installing' campaign. Customers have the right to expect meters to be installed with a minimum amount of fuss and hassle. Smart metering has the potential to revolutionise the country’s relationship with energy, and we strongly feel that this opportunity to rekindle some consumer trust in the utilities industry should not be jeopardised by companies using home visits as a sales opportunity.'
- Smart meters versus energy monitors – our video highlights key differences
- Your smart meter questions answered
- Read our energy monitor user reviews
