The UK government has brought in rules to force energy suppliers to fix faulty smart meters within 90 days.

Suppliers will have no more than 90 days to repair faulty smart meters or face action from regulator Ofgem, which could include fines or legal action.

While 92% of smart meters work as they should, many households have struggled with their smart meters not operating in smart mode, meaning they do not send automatic meter readings to suppliers. They and have had to wait far too long to get them fixed, said a government statement.

Consumers are also now eligible for £40 in compensation if they face issues throughout the process of installing a smart meter, such as delayed or failed installations, following reforms brought forward by Ofgem.

Last summer, the government published a guide to smart metering (www.gov.uk/government/publications/smart-meters-your-rights-and-expectations) to help families gain a better understanding of their rights by clearly setting out in one place everything households can expect from suppliers when they get a smart meter.

“Smart meters are already helping millions of people manage their energy use and save on bills,” said minister for energy consumers Martin McCluskey. “But we know far too many people can be waiting several months for their smart meter to be fixed, and losing money in the process. These new rules will put an end to this, making sure meters are fixed in good time, driving up standards, protecting billpayers and helping more consumers feel the benefits of having a smart meter.”

Energy suppliers will also be required to replace all smart meters that are still connected to 2G and 3G before the services are switched off by 2033, ensuring consumers continue to benefit from their smart meters as local networks move over to 4G services.

Almost 40 million households and small businesses across Britain already use smart meters to help them better understand their energy use and bring down their bills. In 2025, households with smart meters saved an estimated £700m on their bills.

Suppliers are already required to take all reasonable steps to fix smart meters that are not working as they should. The latest obligations will now provide a time frame within which suppliers must provide repairs, mandating that suppliers must take all reasonable steps to ensure meters are fixed as soon as possible, and no longer than 90 days after they are notified of the issue.

Failure to comply with these rules could result in Ofgem (www.ofgem.gov.uk) putting companies on notice or enforcing fines.