Smart metering is no longer simply a rollout programme. It is evolving into a long‑term national service, central to how the UK’s energy system operates, how consumers interact with their energy use, and how the transition to a smarter, more flexible grid is delivered.
The UK’s smart metering programme has entered a new phase. From 2026, national policy moves decisively beyond large‑scale installation targets and places greater emphasis on the long‑term operation, maintenance, and performance of smart gas and electricity meters as part of the country’s critical energy infrastructure. This reflects the reality that smart meters are now embedded across much of the housing stock and must be managed as enduring assets rather than short‑term delivery outputs.
With most households already equipped with smart meters, the post‑2025 framework shifts attention toward reliability, security, and consumer experience. The priority is ensuring that meters continue to operate effectively throughout their lifespan, provide accurate data, and support consumers to engage confidently with their energy use. Alongside this, the policy supports a more stable and sustainable approach to installations, upgrades, replacements, and fault resolution—avoiding the disruption, inefficiency, and workforce instability associated with stop‑start delivery models.
A key milestone in this transition is the end of the previous installation targets in December 2025. These targets are followed by updated regulatory obligations confirmed in early 2026, which introduce a more flexible, outcomes‑focused approach. From this point onwards, energy suppliers and delivery partners are required to take “all reasonable steps” to complete remaining installations, maintain system performance, and address issues such as meters not operating in smart mode, rather than meeting fixed annual quotas.
Looking ahead to 2030, the government’s objective is for the vast majority of homes to have a functioning smart meter, supporting accurate billing, flexible energy use, and a more resilient and responsive energy system. Success in this next phase will be measured less by installation numbers and more by quality, trust, resilience, and long‑term value for consumers and the energy system as a whole.