British Gas has become the first UK energy supplier to install a working 4G Communication Hub into a residential property as part of the nationwide smart meter upgrade programme.
British Gas is one of several providers working with the Data Communications Company (DCC) to rollout the new technology and lead the way with the first customer install in Ashford, Kent earlier this month.
An initial pilot of 4G Communication Hubs is being installed during a validation phase headed up by the DCC from December 2024 to February 2025, with a mass rollout expected from summer 2025, across the Central & South region. Existing smart meters that connect using 2G and 3G technology will be phased out by 2033.
The energy supplier is expected to carry out around 1,000 installs before the end of the first phase in preparation for its role in delivering the wider rollout next summer.
More than 30 million smart meters are currently installed in the UK with the upgrade set to futureproof the network and enable ongoing benefits including making it easier for customers to access innovative, flexible tariffs that could save them money whilst maintaining balance and stability of the national grid.
British Gas’ PeakSave is one of the largest flexible energy schemes that uses smart meter data to reward homeowners for shifting their electricity use away from peak hours to times when there’s less demand or more renewable electricity available on the grid.
An additional 50,000 people have already signed up to PeakSave to benefit from half price electricity this Christmas with PeakSave Sundays – helping a total of 750,000 people customers save money and use cleaner, greener energy this year – with more than £15 million customer savings made so far.
Louise Dickinson, Head of Smart Strategy and Policy at British Gas, said: “Smart meters remain a vital way to give households more control over their energy usage, helping them to reduce carbon and save on their bills. We’re proud to be supporting this important network upgrade and ensuring customers continue to benefit from smart meter services in their home.
“As we strive towards a greener grid, smart meters also give customers access to flexible energy schemes and time of use tariffs which can unlock additional savings while supporting the work to deliver on the UK’s net zero targets.”
The smart meter network, designed, built and operated by the Data Communications Company (DCC), is one of Europe’s largest telecommunications networks.
