Smart meters — digital electricity and gas meters that communicate usage data automatically to suppliers and allow two-way communication — are now installed in the majority of homes in several leading markets, and the rollout is accelerating globally. Here is where the technology stands in 2026 and what it means for energy consumers.

The Leaders: UK, Italy, Scandinavia

The UK’s smart meter rollout, while plagued by delays and interoperability issues in its early years, has now installed smart meters in a majority of UK homes. Italy was actually the first country to roll out smart meters at national scale and has had near-universal coverage for years. Scandinavian countries, led by Sweden and Norway, also achieved near-complete smart meter penetration ahead of most other European markets.

The US: A Fragmented Picture

The United States has made significant progress on smart meter deployment, with more than 115 million advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) devices installed by utilities across the country. However, the fragmented nature of the US electricity market — with thousands of utilities of varying sizes — means that the pace of rollout and the functionality of smart systems varies enormously by utility and state.

What Smart Meters Enable

Smart meters are the foundation for time-of-use tariffs, which charge different rates depending on when electricity is consumed. For households that can shift flexible loads — EV running costs vs petrol charging, dishwashers, washing machines, hot water heating — to off-peak periods, smart meters and time-of-use tariffs can deliver meaningful bill savings.

Smart meters also eliminate estimated bills and provide households with accurate, near-real-time data on their energy consumption — the foundation for informed energy management decisions.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Always consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.