Page last updated on 27th April 2026
How smart meters can benefit older people
According to our research, 61% of those aged 70+ with a smart meter said they wish they’d switched to one earlier. So we've teamed up with Angela Rippon and National Energy Action to show you how smart meters can help older people and all generations to manage their energy use.
What's on this page?
Traditional meters vs smart meters
Our research has highlighted some issues that older people can experience with traditional meters. Below are some of the stats you may not be aware of:
Traditional:
Unsure of your spending
55% of those aged 70+ with a traditional energy meter want more help managing their household energy use. Traditional meters make this trickier, with limited visibility of how much energy you’ve used.
Smart:
Knowing where you stand
Smart meters make it easier to see how much energy you’ve used on the in-home display. For prepay customers, the in-home display shows how much credit you have left and when you are close to using up your emergency credit. 65% of smart meter owners aged 70+ say they have a greater sense of control thanks to their smart meter in-home display.
Traditional:
Estimated bills
With a traditional energy meter, your bills will be based on estimates of how much energy you’ve used unless you manually send meter readings regularly to your energy provider.
Smart:
Only pay for what you've used
As well as showing how much energy you’ve used on your in-home display, smart meters send meter readings automatically and securely to your supplier, so you know your bill will be accurate.
Traditional:
Travelling to top up
People aged 70 and over make an average of three trips a month to top up their traditional prepay energy meters. That’s a lot of time spent making sure your prepay balance doesn’t run out.
Smart:
Top up from home
With a smart prepay meter you can easily top up from home via a landline phone, mobile or online. You can even still top up from the shop if that’s what you like.
How smart meters can help
Find out more about the benefits of smart meters in the video below:
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Angela: What do you think about modern day technology?
Derek: I must admit I do get overwhelmed with it. Sarah helps me a lot.
Eunice: Everyday something else is coming out, and it’s ahead of me I’ve still got to learn.
Joy: I like technology, but the smart meter is something that I think is absolutely amazing. It enables me to budget, it enables me to plan what I’m doing and what I’m using in my house.
Angela: I find it really good because the readings are accurate, I can see how much energy I’m using, and that helps me to keep personal control of my bills.
So tell me Derek, what are you currently using?
Derek: I have a pre-payment meter but it can be inconvenient to get it topped up.
Sarah: He has to go to the shop. Sometimes it doesn’t always work. It has issues registering.
Angela: I think a prepay smart meter would really help you because you can actually do it from home. You can still go to the shop to top it up, but at least them the display would tell you how much energy you’ve used and what it’s costing you.
Derek: If I could do it from home then that would be really handy.
Sarah: For me, for peace of mind and for Dad, it would make it a lot easier for you.
Eunice: I think it’s a brilliant idea.
Angela: Well, thank you so much, all four of you, because it’s been fascinating to listen to you and also to find out how positive it is to actually make that switch.
How to get a smart meter
You could benefit from getting a smart meter at no extra cost. Type your energy supplier in the box below and we'll get you to the right place.
1 Survey of 2,000 respondents; 1,000 respondents 70+, 1,000 respondents adults in contact with elderly relatives, carried out by OnePoll between 19th – 23rd February 2024
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