A smart meter is a broad term for different types of communication-enabled meters. A smart meter records real-time or near real-time readings and other information, such as power outages, which are stored for detailed consumption analysis.

Why are my Readings Recorded Every 30 Minutes?

A Half Hourly Meter automatically sends your usage data to your energy supplier every 30 minutes, which allows for more accurate billing and helps ensure the grid can meet energy demand. Furthermore, in the UK (and more), large energy consumers are required to have a half hourly meter to monitor their usage and prevent small spikes from putting too much pressure on the transmission network.

Taking a manual reading

With a Half Hourly Meter, you don't need to manually take readings every month like you do with a standard meter. However, it's still a good idea to occasionally check your meter reading as the data transfer signal can sometimes be interrupted. Your usage data is displayed on the LCD display on the front of your Half Hourly Meter. Be aware: data other than usage can be shown as well.

Interpreting your data

By using the data collected by your Half Hourly Meter, you can view your energy cost, consumption, and carbon usage in easy-to-understand charts for any given period. Comparing week-on-week and month-on-month data can help you identify any changes in your energy usage, and if you have multiple sites, you can view metrics for each one.

Because the meter records your usage every 30 minutes, you can analyse your energy consumption patterns throughout the day. This can help you determine which devices or processes are using the most energy and where you could make changes to save money.

Additionally, you can set up your own alerts to notify you when you're approaching your kWh capacity, which can help you avoid additional charges.