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Smart meter data privacy: What you need to know and why it’s safer than you think …

As the UK moves towards a smarter, greener energy future, smart meters are becoming standard in households across the country. They deliver accurate billing, better energy tracking and improved service, however they also raise questions abut data privacy and digital security.

We get it. We’re in an age where data breaches make headlines and our privacy matters more than ever and there’s a real concern about who can actually see our data.

The truth is, Smart meters are secure by design, built on strict legal frameworks and privacy-first principles.

In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how smart meters handle your data.

What smart meters do, and don’t do!

A smart meter is a digital device that measures and records your energy consumption in real-time, sending this information directly to your energy company. That’s it.

What they do:

  • Record energy usage in real-time

  • Transmit readings over a secure, non-internet network (WAN)

  • Power your in-home display with cost and consumption trends

What they don’t do:

  • Record your identity, location, or financial information

  • Monitor which appliances you use or when you use them

  • Connect to your Wi-Fi

  • Spy on you. There’s no cameras or microphones

How your smart meter data is collected and protected

Smart meters collect only one kind of information – how much energy is used in your home, measured over a specific time period, usually half hourly.

This data is:

  • Encrypted end to end

  • Transferred by the secure Wide Area Network (WAN) managed by the Data Communications Company (DCC)

  • Stored under GDPR and UK Data Protection laws

The system was developed alongside cybersecurity experts to minimise vulnerabilities and ensure that data cannot be intercepted or misused.

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Research Insight

According to the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre, the Smart meter infrastructure has undergone rigorous testing and is designed to be as secure as is possible under today’s technological standards.

Can smart meters be breached?

Smart meters have been designed in collaboration with top cyber security experts, specifically to prevent hacking.

In theory, any digital system has a vulnerability risk, however in practice, the smart meter system is one of the most secure consumer networks in the UK.

Here’s why:

  • Data is encrypted before it leaves your home

  • Smart meters send data through their own dedicated communications system (WAN)

  • Smart meters or the IHD do not use your home internet service

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Expert Consensus

A 2022 report from the UK Government Office for Science stated that Smart meters represent a negligible cybersecurity risk when compared to common household devices that are connected to your internet, such as routers or Smart TV’s.

Common smart meter myths (and why they’re wrong)
Myth Reality
Smart meters spy on households They don’t have cameras or microphones
They track which appliances I use They only measure the total energy uses, not individual appliances
Hackers can access personal data No personal or financial information is stored
You can’t control your data You decide how often to share your data with your supplier
Smart meters respect your privacy

If you’re concerned about your privacy, you’re not alone and it’s right to ask questions about how your data is used. Smart meters offer a secure, transparent and consumer controlled experience.

Ready to take the next step?

If you haven’t yet upgraded to a Smart meter, take control of your energy and upgrade today.

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