The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has published its latest quarterly Smart Meter Statistics covering activity to the end of June 2026. The statistics confirm continued progress in the smart meter rollout across Great Britain, with more than 42 million smart and advanced meters now operating in homes and small businesses, representing 72% of all meters. Of the approximately 40 million smart meters in operation, 92% are operating in smart mode, maintaining a high level of functionality across the installed estate.
A significant development in this release is the introduction of smart meter replacement installation data, published retrospectively from 2022 onwards. This provides, for the first time, a comprehensive view of total installation activity, capturing both new smart meter installations and the replacement of existing smart and advanced meters. DESNZ reported that between April and June 2026, approximately 1.1 million smart and advanced meters were installed, comprising around 525,000 new installations and 570,000 replacement installations. Notably, replacement activity now exceeds new installations, highlighting the increasing maturity of the smart metering estate and the industry’s transition from deployment towards asset lifecycle management and ongoing operational performance.
The report also introduces several improvements designed to enhance accessibility and usability. The publication has moved from a PDF-based format to HTML, aligning with wider GOV.UK publishing standards. Supporting datasets have been restructured into tidy-data formats, making analysis easier for industry participants, researchers, and organisations using data analytics tools. These changes are intended to improve transparency and support deeper analysis of smart meter performance and installation trends.]
For meter operators and industry stakeholders, the statistics reinforce the changing nature of the smart metering programme. While rollout activity remains substantial, attention is increasingly focused on maintaining smart functionality, replacing ageing assets, ensuring compatibility with evolving communications technologies, and supporting long-term operational performance. The introduction of replacement activity reporting provides greater visibility of these emerging priorities and reflects the sector’s shift from large-scale deployment towards optimisation of an established smart metering asset base.
The next quarterly update, covering activity to the end of September 2026, is scheduled for publication on 26 November 2026.
The Q2 2026 statistics demonstrate that the smart metering programme is entering a new phase of maturity. The fact that replacement installations now outnumber new installations highlights the growing importance of meter asset management, communications hub upgrades, smart functionality retention, and operational excellence. For Meter Operators, this transition is likely to drive increased focus on workforce capability, service quality, logistics, technology refresh programmes, and the efficient management of meter exchanges to ensure consumers continue to realise the full benefits of smart metering.