Navigating the Energy Landscape: How smart meters send data to energy suppliers

BLOG

In March 2024, over 57% of small businesses had an advanced or smart meter. But how many of those know how their data is sent to suppliers? Here at Valda, we asked our experts to get you the answers.

How does a smart meter send the data?

Smart meters across Great Britain use a wireless and secure data network known as the Wide Area Network (WAN) to travel to the Data Communications Company (DCC) servers. Before your smart meter data makes its way on the WAN it is well encrypted first. Your encrypted data then travels via the DCC servers and straight to your supplier.

Though your meter data goes via DCC servers, they cannot see or keep the personal information. It goes straight to the energy supplier who then decrypt the data and use it to bill businesses accurately.

Only you and your supplier can see how much energy you’re using and when. The only other exception is if you have given explicit permission to third parties.

How often does it send the data?

Smart meters normally collect a read automatically every 30 minutes. This gives suppliers the most accurate snapshot of your usage and makes your billing more accurate.

What does a smart meter need to work?

You don’t need Wi-Fi for it to work, as it communicates via the bespoke WAN solely used by smart meters. This network works in the same way as other wireless networks like radio waves or TV signals and is completely safe and secure.

This is transmitted using cellular and wireless mesh technology provided by Virgin Media O2. In the northern regions, it’s transmitted over long-range radio provided by Arqiva.

Using this stand-alone network means that it will not interfere with your tech devices, Wi-Fi or phone connection. It also means that your smart meter will continue to work if the internet drops out at your premises.