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Every month your payments are scheduled to come out on the same day. However, when there is a bank holiday, some payments will be delayed due to the loss of a working day. The next bank holidays are Thursday 2nd June 2022 and Friday 3rd June 2022. This article will explain how this affects you.

How do Bank Holidays affect my direct debit payments being taken?

If your scheduled monthly Direct Debit payments fall on a bank holiday, there will be a delay to when this payment is taken. Typically, it will be taken the next working day. For example, if your payments are scheduled to be taken on the 2nd of every month, as 2nd June is a bank holiday your payments will be taken on the next working day, Monday 6th June.

Payments are also not taken at weekends so there is the potential for a delay of up to 4 days between your usual payment date and the date your payment will actually be taken but please be assured that payment will still be taken. 

I’ve received my bill but no payment has been taken and I have a higher than expect debit on the account, what do I need to do?

Your bills are produced around 2 days after your Direct Debit payment is scheduled to be taken. However, this can mean around bank holidays when payments can be taken 2 days or more later than scheduled, a bill may be produced that shows no payments being taken and a higher debit than expected, but please don’t worry! On the following month’s bill you will see the payment taken for the following month as well as the payment taken for the current month. You will not be over or undercharged. You are able to monitor when your payment has been processed here through your online account.

If you believe a payment is missing or have any concerns about your bills, please get in contact with us by either calling us on 0330 111 50 50 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or by emailing us at help@so.energy.

So Energy recently joined forces with ESB and as a result we are backed by a very stable company with long term plans in the UK, There is no risk to So Energy, all credit balances are safe. 

You can be very confident that So Energy will continue to supply your property and provide our great service. 

So Energy has been one of the leading energy suppliers since we started in 2015 and we recently announced our merger with ESB Energy, which allows us to benefit greatly from their 90 years of experience in energy, as well as their strong financial standing.

The reasons we're so confident are ESB is part of Ireland’s largest energy company, with a long track record in the energy sector, and is a strongly diversified utility company with operations spanning electricity generation, transmission and distribution and energy supply. Furthermore,  over the past three decades ESB have invested over £2 billion in UK green energy infrastructure, and their leading history has been supported by an extremely strong financial foundation. 

So, rest assured we will be here for you and continuing to provide our great customer service.

You may have seen in the news in recent weeks and months that energy prices are increasing across the energy industry and thought about what this means for you and what you pay for your energy. 

Will my Bill increase?

Fixed tariff

If you are on a fixed tariff, your price will remain the same until the end date of your tariff, a fixed tariff gives you peace of mind and confidence that the price you pay for energy will remain the same. However, with winter coming your usage might increase which does affect your bill. To read more about how your usage impacts your bill, read here!

If you are near the end of your tariff 

If your fixed tariff is coming to an end soon, you will most likely see an increase in your renewal price.

I'm at the end of my contract and my renewal price is a lot higher than my current monthly payments, why have my monthly payments increased so much?

• When we calculate your renewal price there are 2 elements that are used; your estimated annual usage and the tariff rates
  • We calculate your estimated annual usage based on your meter readings over the past 12 months (or for the time you have been on supply with us), if you've been providing us with regular monthly readings or we take smart reads remotely, this will ensure this figure is as accurate as possible!
  • Your tariff rates are what you pay per unit of energy (in kWh) and the standing charge per day.
  • This means that while your estimated annual consumption may not have changed, the changes in unit rate and daily standing charge may cause your monthly payments to increase.
• We understand the impact that price hikes may have, especially on those vulnerable, so if you are facing financial difficulty, please contact us to discuss a solution that works best for you.

We are currently only offering 24 month tariffs which  are a great option if you are renewing as your tariff price is locked in for longer, meaning you don't have to worry about any future increase in price for the length of your contract.

Why are prices increasing?

Rest assured, So Energy always tries to provide you the best price possible. The vast increase in wholesale costs (where we buy your energy) means that we are forced to increase the prices we charge you.

While we - and most energy suppliers - will pass any savings on to our customers and absorb rises in wholesale costs in order to keep things affordable, there are times when you’ll see an increase in what you’re paying. This is generally unavoidable, and as an energy supplier not something that we like having to do.

The increase in gas and electricity prices over the last month are driven by wholesale costs going up as a result of various socio-political and environmental factors across the world.

• Some of these factors include:
  • A cold spring in Europe. As you’ll undoubtedly have noticed, spring this year didn’t trouble the mercury. Lower temperatures and less sunshine than expected - among other things - meant higher demands on stored energy, leaving less in storage to deal with the spike in demand outlined above, thus leading to higher prices.
  • An increase in demand as the country recovers from the effects of Covid lockdowns. Businesses are opening again, public transport is back to full capacity, people are back in the office and so on as vestiges of normality continue to return. All of this requires energy, and this has created a spike in demand that requires supply.
  • It’s been hotter elsewhere. While we experienced cooler temperatures in Europe, Asia experienced a hotter-than-usual summer. This, in turn, has resulted in higher demand for gas and electricity for cooling systems which, in turn, has also contributed to lower levels of available stored energy.
  • Fire damage to a connector across the Channel restricts how much energy can be transferred from there
• Energy markets fluctuate all the time and our expectation is for this price increase trend to reduce over the next year.

One of the many amazing benefits of having a smart meter is that you should never have to submit manual readings again. That being said, there are times where this may still be required, especially if you have a first-generation (SMETS1) meter that has not yet been enrolled into the smart network. That’s why we’ve put together the below step-by-step guides, just in case we ever ask you for a reading. 

If you've got a traditional meter, try our guide How to read your meter.

Just before we begin, it’s worth us mentioning that if we installed your smart meter(s) you will either have a Landis & Gyr or EDMI set up, which you can read more about here. Steps on how to read these meters can also be found in the guide below.

Quick links:

For those of you that already know what type of meter you have, we've got you covered.

Electricity smart meters

• If you have a keypad
• If you have A and B buttons
• If you have two white buttons with arrows and other markings around them
• If you have two grey buttons
• If you have three grey buttons
• If you have two round blue and orange buttons
• If you have an orange button on the left and blue buttons on the right
• If you have two white buttons

Gas smart meters

• If you have a keypad
• If you have A and B buttons
• If you have two grey buttons either side of the display
• If you have three square red buttons
• If you have an orange and a blue arrow to the right of the screen
• If you have two white buttons with arrows and other markings around them
• If you have two grey arrows with and a button in the middle

Before you start:

Make sure you’re looking at your smart meter on the wall, rather than your in-home display (IHD). As great as your IHD is, it’s always best to take readings from your actual meter.

Electricity smart meters:

It’s worth remembering that electricity reads are recorded in "kWh" (kilowatt hours), so be on the look out for this value when cycling through your display (but remembering to ignore the numbers after the decimal place). 

If you have a keypad

Meters with this setup: 

• Secure Liberty 100 (SMETS1)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press 6 on the keypad until you see ‘IMP R01’ followed by 8 digits
2. You’ll then see 8 digits (e.g. 0012565.3) followed by kWh at the bottom right of the screen. This will be your peak/day time reading
3. This is your read, so for this example your reading would be 12565

If you are an Economy 7/multi-rate customer:

1. Keep pressing 6 on the keypad until you see 'IMP R02' followed by 8 digits - this is usually your night/off-peak reading
2. You can also press 9 on the keypad if you’re looking for a total/cumulative (both registers combined) reading

If you have A and B buttons

Meters with this setup: 

• Landis & Gyr E470 (SMETS2)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the B button to wake up the display
2. Keep pressing the green ‘A’ button to cycle through until you see R01
3. Your R01 register reading should now be visible on screen

If you are an Economy 7/multi-rate customer:

1. Press and hold the ‘B’ button for 3-5 seconds
2. Simultaneously press the ‘A’ button and you should notice the display revert to your R02 register
3. This is your second register reading

If you have two white buttons with arrows and other markings around them

Meters with this setup: 

• EDMI ES-10B (SMETS2)

These buttons might be to the left or underneath the display. To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Hold OK to enter the Main Menu - you will see ‘Billing’ appear on-screen
2. Hold OK again to enter the ‘Billing’ sub-menu
3. Using the arrows, scroll to ‘Advanced’ (2 pushes of the > button)
4. Hold OK to enter the ‘Advanced’ sub-menu - you will then see ‘TOUmtrx’ appear
5. Hold OK to enter the ‘TOUmatrx’ sub-menu and you will see ‘RATE1’ appear

If you are an Economy 7/multi-rate customer:

1. Following the same steps above, ensure you are on the TOUmatrx menu
2. Pressing the left/down button allows you to scroll through the list of rates and associated kWh values, including your R02 register reading

If you have two grey buttons

Meters with this setup: 

• Honeywell Elster AS302P (SMETS2)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the "Display" or "Select" button to wake up the display
2. By pressing the button the meter display will scroll through to the meter reading. The number you're after is the one followed by kWh
3. As before, write down all the digits ignoring any digits after the decimal point (if you have one). We only require the whole numbers
4. In this example the meter reading is 23541

If you have three grey buttons

Meters with this setup: 

• Honeywell Elster AS300P (SMETS1)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press and hold the grey middle button until the main menu loads up
2. ‘General’ should appear on-screen – press and hold the middle button again to select this option
3. ‘Time & Date’ should be visible – now scroll with the bottom button until you see ‘TOU Registers’ 
4. Press and hold the middle button once more will hovering over ‘TOU Registers’ and you should now see ‘Imp. R1’ with a value underneath it

If you are an Economy 7/multi-rate customer:

1. You can use the bottom button to scroll through your other register readings i.e. ‘Imp. R2’
2. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
3. In this example the meter reading is 23541

If you have two round blue and orange buttons

Meters with this setup:

• Aclara SGM1400 (SMETS2)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the blue 'A' button to wake up the display
2. Continue pressing 'A' until you see 'Total Active Import'
3. Your reading should now be visible on screen

If you have an orange button on the left and blue buttons on the right

Meters with this setup: 

• Itron EM425-UK (SMETS1)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the orange button
2. You'll see a row of digits followed by kWh
3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
4. The reading in this example is 12565

If you have two white buttons

Meters with this setup:

• Kaifa MA120 (SMETS2)

To get a reading from this smart meter:

1. Your meter will automatically cycle through each reading, so you do not need to press anything
2. Wait for your import reading to appear. It will be represented in kWh
3. In this example your reading would be 12559

Gas smart meters

Slightly different to electricity, gas readings are represented in "m3" (cubic meters). Some gas meters also have a habit of ‘falling asleep’ so you might notice that your display is blank when you first look at it. Don't worry though, you should be able to easily wake it up by following the relevant steps below! 

If you have a keypad

Meters with this setup: 

• Secure Liberty Eg4v11 (SMETS1)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press 9 on the keypad until you se 'VOLUME' on the display
2. Then you’ll see a row of digits (e.g. 00063.5) followed by M3 at the bottom right of the screen. This is your reading
3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
4. The read in this example is 00063

If you have A and B buttons

Meters with this setup: 

• Landis & Gyr G470 (SMETS2)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press either the red ‘A’ or black ‘B’ buttons to wake up the display
2. Your reading should now be visible on screen. It may display "METER INDEX"
3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
4. In this example the meter reading is 135

If you have two grey buttons either side of the display

Meters with this setup:

• G4 Metrix GWi (SMETS2)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press either of the two buttons to wake up the display
2. The display should light up
3. You'll see a row of digits followed by m3
4. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
5. The read in this example is 63

If you have three square red buttons

Meters with this setup:

• Flonidan UniFlo G4SZV-1 (SMETS2)

Your buttons may or may not be labelled A, B and C. To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the 'A' or left button
2. You'll see a row of digits followed by m3
3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
4. The read in this example is 135

If you have an orange and a blue arrow to the right of the screen

Meters with this setup:

• Itron Gallus sV G G4 (SMETS1)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the orange button
2. You'll see a row of digits followed by m3
3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
4. In this example the meter reading is 135

If you have two white buttons with arrows and other markings around them

Meters with this setup: 

• EDMI GS-60B (SMETS2)

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. Press the right button. This might be labelled 'OK'
2. The display should wake up and you'll see a row of digits followed by m3
3. Ignore any digits after a decimal point if you have one. We only require the whole numbers
4. In this example the meter reading is 135

If you have two grey arrows with and a button in the middle

Meters with this setup:

• BK-G40E

To get a reading from these smart meters:

1. If your gas meter has a serial number that has a K in it and starts with a BK-G4E, it will be an Elster smart meter. The reading will be on the screen, if the display has gone to sleep mode, press any button to get the reading which will be shown on the display.

Your meter not shown above?

If you think your smart meter isn't shown above, please send us a clear photo that captures the entire front of your meter to help@so.energy. We'll then find out how to read it and we can add your meter type to our guide! 

Meters come in many different shapes and sizes, and each one is read differently. Just to complicate things further, your electricity and gas meters record your usage in different units (electricity in kWh, and gas in m³ or ft³).

We’ve compiled a list to help you work out which type of meter you have and how to read it. If you've got a smart meter try our guide How to read your smart meter.

Once you know how to read your meter, make sure you regularly submit your readings online to keep you on top of your energy. You can also set up email reminders online.

• Does your electricity meter look like any of these?
  • Single rate meter
  • Two rate meter
  • Dial meter
• Does your gas meter resemble any of these?
  • Gas imperial meter
  • Dial meter
  • Gas metric meter

Single rate meter

Digital:

Analogue

• If so, write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 07220

Two rate meter

• If you have a 2-rate meter, that means the meter records how much energy you use during you the day and night time.
• The row marked 'LOW', 'L' or 'NIGHT') shows how many units of off-peak electricity you have used.
• The row marked 'NORMAL', 'N' or 'DAY') shows how many units of peak electricity you have used.
• If your meter isn't clearly labelled, we can help you find out which is day and which is night.
• Write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 556315 & 217457.

Dial meter

• Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it, so check which way each dial turns. Read the dials from left to right, ignoring the dial marked 1/10.
• Write down the number that the pointer has just passed e.g. if the pointer is between 2 and 3 write down 2.
• The reading for the above meter is 26929.

Does your gas meter resemble any of these?

Gas imperial meter

• Write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 2988.

Dial meter

• Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it, so check which way each turns.
• Read the dials from left to right.
• Write down the number that the pointer has just passed e.g. if the pointer is between 2 and 3 write down 2.
• The reading for the above meter is 2692.

Gas metric meter

• Write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 75793.

We do understand that the recent increase in the energy price cap is a really difficult and frightening situation, and it’s one affecting customers of all suppliers. 

We can review your Direct Debit payments in light of the new price cap, and although it is likely to increase, we’ll only ever charge you for the energy that you’ve used. If you don’t have a smart meter it’s really important to submit regular meter readings so we can bill accurately, otherwise we’ll be billing on an estimate of what you’ve used and you might overpay.  

Any reads you took on 31st of March can be submitted until midnight on Sunday, 4th of April and will be backdated to 31st of March, just submit them via your online account or via email (with a photo if possible) at help@so.energy and we’ll do the rest. 

Please note, If we reduce your Direct Debit to a point where it doesn’t cover what you’re using, we run the risk of you getting into debt, and while your energy will never be cut off, that’s a situation we really don’t want. There are independent bodies that can offer advice and support if you’re struggling to keep up, which we have included at the bottom of this article in addition to some helpful information on why this price cap increase is happening, and what the government intends to do to support customers, including a £200 loan to help ease the burden. 

• Martin Lewis has a wealth of advice on his website  Money Saving Expert: Credit Cards, Shopping, Bank Charges, Cheap Flights and more 
• Citizens Advice can offer free advice.  
• Ofgem’s website has some great resources that cover more detail about the changing price cap.  Welcome to Ofgem - the energy regulator for Great Britain 
• The Government’s Money Helper website is also a useful resource.  Free and impartial help with money, backed by the government

We understand that you may not use your energy evenly throughout the year, so paying an equal amount each month doesn't suit everyone.

That's why we offer the option to pay a different amount during summer months and winter months, so you pay more when your usage is higher and less when your usage is lower.

We also have a guide to making Equal Direct Debit Payments. You can switch to equal Direct Debit payments through your online account at any time. 

How we calculate summer and winter payment amounts

Firstly, we calculate your estimated annual energy cost and divide this by 12, giving your average monthly payment amount. We then adjust this for the time of year, reducing your average payment by 25% during the summer months and increasing it by 25% for the winter.

Your summer payments are taken between April and September and your winter payments between October and March.

Whether you pay by equal monthly instalments or by a seasonally adjusted amounts, you'll pay exactly the same amount over the course of 12 months.

Your estimated annual usage is based on all the information you provided to us during your quote process. The most accurate way to estimate your costs is using annual kWh figures (these can be found on your energy bills), but if you don't know this or have them to hand, we can help you estimate your annual cost by looking at the tariff you are currently on and how much you are paying, or by selecting either the 'basic estimate' or 'detailed estimate' options.

In the above example we expect to spend £600 during the course of the next 12 months based on the information provided. This means that an average payment amount is £50 per month (£600 / 12 months = £50).

Summer payments are calculated by reducing this by 25%, in this case: £50 x 75% = £37.50.
The winter payments are calculated in a similar way by increasing the average payment by 25%: £50 x 125% = £62.50.

Adding up all the payments over the course of the year: 6 x Summer Payment (£37.50) + 6 x Winter Payment (£62.50) = £600, the same as if you paid equally through the year. 

What this means for your Account Balance

As we take payment in advance of your usage, we expect your account to remain in credit for most of the year. However, if you are paying seasonally adjusted amounts, we would expect the fluctuation of your account balance throughout the year to be less than if you paid equal amounts each month. Those paying an equal amount each month could expect to see a much bigger credit towards the end of summer, and a much bigger debit towards the end of winter.

During your first month, your account will be in credit because we've taken your first Direct Debit but we haven't produced your first statement yet. Your next month's Account Balance will be calculated as follows: the Account Balance from the previous period (i.e. your first payment) - your charges for the month before + plus your next month's advance payment.

In the example above, the January Account Balance is the winter payment amount (£62.50). The February Account Balance is the previous month's Account Balance (£62.50) - January energy charges (£71) + February advance payment (£62.50) = £54 CR.

Switching from equal to seasonal Direct Debit payments

You can switch from equal to seasonal Direct Debit payments or vice versa. We simply require at least 7 days' notice before your scheduled payment date. We may also require you to make a top-up payment if your switch will result in an overall shortfall in payments, or if your account is in debit. You can change your payment plan via your online account.

We know moving can be stressful but sorting out your energy doesn’t have to be. We handle most of the process for you, we just need a few details from yourself. There’s a quick form to fill out which will be sent straight to our operations team. This article will explain everything you need to know. 

What do we need?

To process your move, we'll need to take a few details from you. You can provide them by completing this form. 

These details will be some dates, some meter readings and some address details so please have the following things handy:

So Energy account number- This is an eight digit number starting 00 that can be found on the top of any email we have sent to you or on your welcome page in your online account.

Full name- Please ensure the name you provide matches with the name on your account.

Telephone number- Please ensure that this matches with the contact number associated with your account.

Address moving out of- please include the full address including postcode of your current property

Last date of responsibility- This is the date that your tenancy for your current property ends or the last day where you are responsible and may not be the same as the day you move out of the property. This will be the date that your account is billed to.

Electricity and/or gas readings- Please provide us with meter readings for all meters that we supply at the property taken on the last day of responsibility or on the date closest to that. These reads will then be agreed with the new occupier before your final bill is issued. Please see this article for further information on reading your traditional or smart meters.

Contact details for new occupier (if known)- This helps us the process of creating an account for the new occupier but do not worry if you do not have any contact information.

Address of forwarding address- please include the full address including postcode for your forwarding address. We may use this in the eventuality we need to send any further communications to you via post.

Things to keep in mind

Can you supply my next property?

Great, we’d love you to stay with us! For more information on this have a look at our page here.

I’ve already moved out/I’m about to move out, am I going to be charged extra because I haven’t told you in time? 

No, even if you’ve already moved out we will only bill you for up to your last date of responsibility.

What happens to any credit I’ve got on the account?

You’ll receive your final bill which will detail any final any charges or early exit fees. Any credit that’s left on the account after that will be refunded back to you, there will be a date on your bill for when this will by. It is usually within 10 days after you receive your final bill.  

Will I be charged any early exit fees?

Early exit fees will only be charged if your current tariff(s) are not in the last 49 days of your contract.

Our 12 month, fixed tariff agreements have early exit fees of £20 per fuel (if your 12 month tariff began prior to 16 August 2021, your early exit fees will be £5 per fuel. If your 12 month tariff began after 16 August 2021 and up to 2 November 2021, your early exit fees will be £10 per fuel). That’s £40 if you end a dual fuel agreement early or £20 for ending a single fuel agreement early. Our 24 month, fixed term tariff agreements have early exit fees of £40 per fuel. That’s £80 if you end a dual fuel agreement early or £40 for ending a single fuel agreement early (if your 24 month tariff began on any date up to and including 2 November, your early exit fees will be £30 per fuel).

Should I cancel my direct debit with you? 

No, we will cancel the direct debit once the final bill has been settled. Cancelling the direct debit can lead to it taking longer to close your account and delay any credit you are owed to get back to you. If you do cancel your direct debit you will need to pay any charges owed manually  

What if I have cancelled my direct debit with you already?

We’d advise reinstating it, but otherwise you will need to pay any money owed through your online account or by getting in touch with us by the due date on your final bill. Any credit due back to you will still be paid but there may be a delay. 

What happens next?

Once we have all the information about your move, the rest of the process is down to us! Please remember to send a final meter read on your last day of responsibility if you haven’t already. We’ll send you your final bill, usually within 14 days of you moving out. After the final bill is settled the account will be closed. 

Here at So Energy, we can’t get enough of smart meters. That’s why we’re committed to offering one to all of our customers. Interested to know more?

Quick links:

• What is a smart meter?
• What's so good about smart meters?
• Can I get a smart meter?
• Already receiving emails from us? Book now!
• Can So Energy support my existing second-generation (SMETS2) smart meter?
• Can So Energy support my existing first-generation (SMETS1) smart meter?
• What does this mean for me and when will my SMETS1 become smart again?
• Is my smart meter first or second generation?
• Can I get a smart meter if I rent/am a landlord?
• I'm an electricity only customer, can I get a smart meter?
• How many smart meters do we plan to install in 2022?

What is a smart meter?

Smart meters are revolutionary, next-generation technology that capture and send meter readings straight to your energy supplier, all without you having to lift a finger. This ensures accurate bills across the board, putting an end to estimates. Smart meters also come complete with an in-home display (IHD), which enables you to track and monitor your usage in a real-time pounds & pence view. You may see us referring to smart meters as SMETS here and there, which stands for Smart Metering Equipment Technical Specification. 

What's so good about smart meters?

Smart meters save money, they save time and they save energy (gas, electricity and your own).

1. No more meter readings - Smart meters send us regular, automatic readings, meaning you’ll never need to root around under the stairs, using the torch on your phone, to take a reading to send us ever again. 
2. No more estimated bills - Since smart meters send us regular readings, we always have accurate data for your energy usage, so we’ll never again need to base a bill on estimated usage. This helps you by ensuring you’re not overpaying, and it helps us to know how much energy to buy in advance for all So Energy customers.
3. Save energy and money - Smart meters come with an in-home display (IHD), a little monitor that shows your real-time energy usage. With this, you can keep an eye on the appliances that use the most energy, make changes and see instant improvements in your consumption!

Can I get a smart meter?

We are now well established in our second-generation smart meter rollout, having installed tens of thousands of meters up and down the country. Our metering partners are doing a fantastic job in helping us to deliver on this project but if you haven’t heard from us already, fear not as you likely will soon!

When we do have availability in your area, we will be in touch through smart.install@so.energy with a prompt to book an appointment via your online account, so be sure to keep an eye out for that!

Once you've made a booking, you can amend or cancel your appointment at any time without getting in touch. All you need to do is use the link provided in your booking confirmation or reminder emails and you'll be able to manage the booking completely by yourself!

Already receiving emails from us? Book now!

If you are receiving smart meter emails from us and can see the below banner on your online account, click here to book now, it only takes 5 minutes! 

Can't see the above banner? Fear not, if you register your interest with us here, we promise to contact you as soon as we can with the offer of a smart meter.

For information on how to prepare for your installation, check out our section here. Or, to find out more about our metering partners and their no-contact smart meter installations, please check out this page here.

Can So Energy support my existing second-generation (SMETS2) smart meter?

So Energy support all second-generation smart meters, also known as SMETS2 meters. If you have a SMETS2 and wish to join our supply, your meter should automatically connect to us and start providing us with reads when we take over supply.

If you have a SMETS2 meter and you are already on our supply, these should be 'woken up' and communicating with us. However, if you feel your smart meter has not yet woken up, please get in touch with us via help@so.energy.

Can So Energy support my existing first-generation (SMETS1) smart meter?

Good news, The Data Communications Company (DCC) is in the process of updating all first generation smart meters by moving them over to the new smart communications network. This migration is being carried out in three stages, with a planned finish at the end of 2021. This is being done so that we can provide you with an even more reliable service, all while ensuring your smart meter(s) can continue to work should you decide to switch suppliers in the future. 

What does this mean for me and when will my SMETS1 become smart again?

We've been working hard to start communicating with newly-enrolled smart meters. That being said, the time and date your SMETS1 will be enrolled and adopted into the new smart communications network depends on a few things, such as the meter manufacturer and the energy supplier who originally installed it. As it’s an industry-wide change that is largely out of our control, we are currently unable to provide exact timings for each meter. However, we anticipate that all first generation smart meters will be enrolled throughout 2021. 

After we’ve taken care of the boring stuff in the background, if your meter is successfully enrolled and communicating with us, you will receive an email from us with the good news that your SMETS1 meter is now smart enabled. This means your meter will be able to do all the useful smart stuff. If both your gas and electricity are first-generation smart meters on supply with us, you will receive this email for each meter we successfully wake-up, so don’t be alarmed if you get it twice (it’s good news!).

If for any reason the Data Communications Company (DCC) are unable to wake up your meter, we will be in contact to offer you a brand new SMETS2 meter, free of charge. For the time being though, sit back and relax until you hear from us. Your first generation smart meters will behave like a ‘normal’ meter, meaning you will need to provide us with meter readings via your online account to ensure an accurate energy statement.

Is my smart meter first or second generation?

Chances are if your meter was installed before 2018, it’s most probably going to be first generation (SMETS1). To be more certain though, you can either check out our page here (complete with diagrams and model names), or look for a device ID (GUID) on the electricity meter. This will be printed on the front of the communications hub (attached to the top of the meter) and will be formatted like this: AA-BB-CC-DD-EE-FF-GG-HH-II. If you can see this, you have a second generation (SMETS2) meter.

Can I get a smart meter if I rent/am a landlord?

This depends who pays the utility bills for the property. Whoever the account holder is (the person responsible for paying the utility bills) ultimately has the choice on whether a smart meter can be installed. However, if you are renting but also pay for the gas and electricity, it may still be worth informing your landlord prior to installation that you are intending to install smart meters at the property!

I'm an electricity only customer, can I get a smart meter?

If you're an electricity only customer, fear not! We are now supporting electricity only smart meter installations up and down the country, so if you haven't heard from us yet then you likely will soon! 

How many smart meters do we plan to install in 2022?

So Energy are on a mission to offer and install smart meters in as many homes as possible in 2022. We plan to install 27,617 gas and 26,427 electricity smart meters in 2022 (54,044 total). Haven't heard from us yet? Fear not, as you likely will do soon. Alternatively, why not your register your interest here and we'll get back to you as soon as we can to let you know if you are eligible.