Smart meter explanation in Exeter
Professional smart meter explanation services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
0.5-1 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Your smart meter explained in plain, simple English. How to read it, what it means, and how to use it to save money on energy bills - no confusing jargon, just practical help.
The Smart Meter Confusion Problem
Your energy company installed a smart meter. They showed you briefly how it works, then left. Now you've got a screen with numbers that keep changing, and you're not entirely sure what you're looking at or how it's supposed to help you save money.
💡 Pro tip: Smart meters are genuinely useful for tracking energy usage, but only if you understand what you're looking at. Most people never get proper explanation beyond a 2-minute rush during installation.
Why People Get Confused
Smart meters aren't complicated, but they're not explained well:
| ✅ After Proper Explanation | ❌ Without Help |
|---|---|
| You know your daily energy cost | Numbers mean nothing |
| Can spot unusual usage spikes | Bills surprise you every time |
| Understand peak/off-peak rates | Paying more than necessary |
| Can make informed decisions about usage | Guessing what uses most energy |
| Confidence to challenge wrong bills | Accept bills even when they feel high |
What You Get
📊 The Complete Walkthrough
| Topic Covered | What We'll Go Through |
|---|---|
| Basic Reading | How to read the current displays, what each screen shows |
| Usage Tracking | Daily/weekly usage, how to check it, what's normal |
| Cost Understanding | How pounds/pence displays work, actual daily costs |
| Peak/Off-Peak | If you have Economy 7/10, when cheap rates apply |
| Troubleshooting | What to do if it stops working, who to call |
📝 What You'll Receive
- Verbal explanation tailored to your understanding level
- Written instructions (simple, clear, no jargon)
- Tips for reducing energy usage based on your patterns
- Contact info for your supplier if meter needs attention
Pricing Guide
| Service Type | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Standard smart meter explanation | Under 1 hr | £60 |
| Explanation + bill analysis | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
| Multiple meters or complex setup | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ Elderly customers - meter installed, never properly explained
✅ Technology confusion - not confident with digital displays
✅ New to smart meters - just had one installed
✅ Bill surprises - want to understand where energy is going
✅ Recently moved house - inherited smart meter, no idea how it works
✅ Saving money - want to use the meter to reduce costs
Why Choose Us for Smart meter explanation in Exeter?
Explained in plain, simple English
Written instructions left with you
No tech jargon or confusing terms
Practical tips for saving money
What to Expect
Step 1: Initial Look
I'll check what type of smart meter you have (there are a few different models, all work slightly differently). Then we'll look at the current display together so I can see what you're already understanding and what needs explaining.
Step 2: Screen-By-Screen Walkthrough
We'll go through each display on your meter - current usage, daily cost, weekly totals, etc. I'll explain what each number means in practical terms (pounds and pence, not kilowatt hours), and how to navigate between screens.
Step 3: Practical Application
Using your actual current usage, we'll work out what your energy is costing daily. If you've got Economy 7, we'll check you're using appliances at the right times. I'll spot patterns that might be costing extra and suggest simple changes.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to understand your smart meter yourself? Here's what to focus on:
📱 Get the app (if available)
- Most energy suppliers have apps showing smart meter data
- Often clearer than the meter display itself
- Shows usage graphs over time (easier to spot patterns)
- Can set budget alerts
🔍 Understanding the displays
- Current usage (kW): How much you're using RIGHT NOW (higher when heating/cooking on)
- Daily cost (£): What today has cost so far (updates throughout day)
- Weekly/monthly totals: Historical usage (compare week-to-week)
💡 Using it to save money
- Check display while appliances run (see what uses most energy)
- Compare costs between days (spot unusual spikes)
- Time heavy usage for off-peak if you have Economy 7
- Set a daily budget and try to stay under it
⚠️ Common misconceptions
- Smart meters don't reduce energy usage themselves (you still use the same energy)
- They just make usage visible so YOU can make changes
- "Smart" doesn't mean it talks to appliances or controls anything
- Not having the display visible doesn't affect how meter works
💡 Pro trick: Put the smart meter display somewhere you see it daily (kitchen counter is common). Seeing your daily cost regularly makes you more conscious of usage. Out of sight = out of mind.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Older Exeter houses often surprise people. Victorian and Edwardian properties can be expensive to heat due to poor insulation. Smart meters reveal this clearly - seeing £8/day heating costs in winter shocks some people into getting draft excluders and better insulation.
This isn't about selling energy switching. I don't work for energy companies, I don't get commission for supplier switches. If your tariff looks terrible, I'll mention it, but my job is helping you understand the meter, not changing your supplier.
Many elderly customers have never had it explained. Energy company installers are rushed - they fit the meter, show you briefly, and leave. If you didn't understand in that moment, tough. This service gives you as long as you need to ask questions and understand properly.
Written instructions help long-term. I'll leave you with simple, clear instructions for reading your meter. When you forget in a few months (everyone does), you've got a reference instead of calling the supplier helpline and getting confused again.
Some meters don't work properly. If yours isn't communicating with your supplier (stuck on "awaiting data" or not updating), I'll spot that and help you contact them to fix it. You're not getting smart meter benefits if it's not working.
Bill analysis is eye-opening. Bringing recent bills along helps - we can compare what the smart meter shows versus what you're being charged. Sometimes reveals billing errors, sometimes just confirms usage is genuinely high.
This pairs well with energy-saving advice. If you want, I can walk round your house pointing out energy-saving improvements (draft excluders, timer switches, efficient bulb upgrades) while explaining the meter. Two services in one visit.
Families arrange this for parents. Adult children in Devon often book this for elderly parents who are confused by smart meters but too embarrassed to ask the energy company repeatedly. One clear explanation, written instructions, problem solved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly will you explain about my smart meter?
How to read it, what the different screens mean, how to check your daily/weekly usage, what the numbers actually tell you about your energy costs, and how to use that information to save money. I'll go through it step-by-step until you're comfortable.
I'm not good with technology - will I understand it?
That's exactly why this service exists. I explain things in normal English, not tech jargon. If something's confusing, we'll go over it again. I'll leave you with written instructions too, so you've got a reference after I leave.
Can you help me understand why my bills have gone up?
Yes - we'll look at your smart meter readings, compare them to previous usage if you have it, and work out where your energy is going. Sometimes it's obvious (heating on more, tumble dryer usage), sometimes it reveals surprises. Either way, you'll understand what's using the most energy.
Will you try to sell me anything or change my supplier?
No - I'm a handyman who explains technology, not an energy company salesman. If your tariff looks terrible I'll mention it, but I won't push switching or upgrading anything. This is pure education and help.
What if my smart meter isn't working properly?
I'll spot that during the explanation - if it's not communicating with your supplier, showing wrong information, or needs resetting. I can't fix smart meters themselves (that's your supplier's job), but I can help you contact them with the right information to get it sorted.
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