Fuse Energy Smart Meters Explained

Fuse Energy smart meters are free SMETS2 electricity meters that record your usage every half-hour and send readings automatically, so you no longer submit manual meter readings and can access lower off-peak rates. Fuse Energy is a UK supplier established in 2022. and regulated by Ofgem, meaning it must follow the same consumer protection rules and price cap as every other domestic supplier.

If you are an engaged switcher trying to pick the right tariff type and use cheaper overnight electricity, the smart meter is the piece that makes it possible. Fuse’s time-of-use tariffs, including its off-peak variable tariff, only work with a compatible smart meter, while single-rate tariffs do not need one. Free Price Compare draws on Ofgem publications and supplier data to help you weigh up whether a smart meter and an off-peak tariff suit how you actually use energy.

Last updated: August 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed August 2026

Who are Fuse Energy?

Fuse Energy is a UK domestic energy supplier established in 2022 that supplies households across England, Scotland and Wales and is regulated by Ofgem. Fuse positions itself as a low-cost provider, with tariffs designed to compete on price, partly through lower than average standing charges. It began as an electricity-focused supplier and now offers gas alongside electricity to eligible homes. Because it is Ofgem-regulated, Fuse must follow the same rules as larger suppliers, including the price cap on standard variable tariffs and the guaranteed switching standards that protect you if a switch goes wrong.

Fuse holds a strong customer rating in independent customer reviews. Its app gives you half-hourly usage data once a connected smart meter is in place, which is central to managing an off-peak tariff.

What is a Fuse Energy smart meter and how does it work?

A Fuse Energy smart meter is a SMETS2 electricity meter that measures your usage in half-hourly intervals and sends those readings to Fuse automatically over a mobile signal, not your home broadband. SMETS2 is the second-generation smart meter standard used across the national rollout, and it communicates through the Data Communications Company network rather than a supplier-specific system, so it keeps working if you switch away. Each meter records how much electricity you use and when, which is what allows a time-of-use tariff to charge different rates at different times of day.

Smart meters do not use your home WiFi. They connect through a dedicated wireless network, and some newer units use a 4G comms hub where older signals are weak. This matters if you have poor coverage indoors, because connectivity is the most common reason a smart meter shows offline or stops sending readings.

• Records electricity use every half hour and sends readings automatically.
• Comes with an in-home display (IHD) showing usage and estimated cost.
• Feeds real-time data into the Fuse app for hourly, daily, weekly and yearly views.
• Uses a mobile network connection, never your household broadband.

For a broader look at how these meters interact with pricing, our guide on smart meters and the energy price cap explains how usage data and capped unit rates fit together.

Compare live energy tariffs for your postcode

Is smart meter installation free with Fuse?

Smart meter installation is free with Fuse Energy, in line with the national rollout, and it typically takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. A trained engineer visits your home, turns off the power for a short period, fits the meter near your consumer unit and shows you how to use the in-home display before leaving you with access to usage insights in the Fuse app. There is no upfront charge for the meter or the fitting, because the cost of the rollout is spread across energy bills nationally rather than billed to you directly.

Installation is free, but it is not compulsory, and you do not need a smart meter to become a Fuse customer. You only need one if you want a time-of-use tariff. If you stay on a single-rate tariff, a traditional meter is fine, though you will keep submitting manual meter readings and miss the half-hourly usage data.

Can I switch to Fuse first and get a smart meter later?

Yes, you can switch to Fuse Energy first on a single-rate tariff and arrange a smart meter afterwards. A smart meter is not a requirement to join, and many households switch supplier, settle in, then book a free installation once they decide they want the usage data or an off-peak tariff. Ofgem’s switching rules mean your switch should complete within a few working days once your cooling-off period ends, and your existing meter keeps working throughout.

Once your smart meter is installed and connected, you can then move onto a time-of-use tariff such as the off-peak variable tariff. Doing it in this order suits people who want to compare their actual usage pattern in the app before committing to overnight rates. If you are weighing up a switch generally, our tips on cutting energy costs in the UK cover what to check before you move.

How do Fuse’s off-peak and time-of-use tariffs work?

Fuse’s off-peak variable tariff charges a lower electricity rate during an overnight window, with a higher rate during the rest of the day. A time-of-use tariff is any tariff that varies the unit rate by time of day, and Fuse offers this as a way to reward households that can shift usage to the cheaper overnight period. To be eligible you need a dual-rate compatible smart meter; there is no requirement for a specific EV or charger model, so households without an electric vehicle can use it too.

Fuse offers four tariff combinations overall: single-rate fixed, single-rate variable, off-peak fixed and off-peak variable, across contract lengths that have included 13 and 15-month terms. Off-peak tariffs pay off when a meaningful share of your electricity can move overnight, such as charging an EV, running a heat pump or scheduling a dishwasher and washing machine overnight.

Figures are indicative and may change.

Off-peak rates change over time. Fuse has changed its off-peak and peak rates over time, so live pricing should be checked before publishing. That volatility is a reminder to check the live rate for your address rather than assume a headline number holds.

Not sure which tariff suits your usage?

See what actually drives your bill before you choose off-peak.

Check what uses the most energy

Does Fuse install gas smart meters?

Fuse Energy began as an electricity-only supplier and now supplies gas as well as electricity, though smart meter arrangements can vary by setup and region. If you take both fuels, arrangements for a gas smart meter depend on your setup and region, and it is worth confirming with Fuse directly before you assume a single dual-fuel meter install. Where you have a smart electricity meter and a traditional gas meter, you will still submit manual gas meter readings, and the in-home display may only reflect electricity.

Households that split fuels across two suppliers, for example gas with one provider and electricity with Fuse, should expect each meter to report to its own supplier. The in-home display in that case may not show both fuels as you would expect, because it is tied to how the meters are commissioned. If accurate dual-fuel billing matters to you, keeping both fuels with one supplier avoids that complication.

How does the energy price cap affect Fuse tariffs?

The Ofgem energy price cap sets the maximum unit rates and standing charge a supplier can charge on a standard variable tariff for a typical household, and it applies to Fuse just as it does to every domestic supplier. From 1 July to 30 September 2026, the cap for a typical dual-fuel direct debit household is £1,862 on pre-July 2026 consumption values, according to Ofgem, announced on 27 May 2026. The cap limits rates and the standing charge, not a fixed total bill, so what you actually pay depends on how much energy you use.

Fuse’s variable tariff rates fluctuate in line with the price cap and aim to undercut it by a few percent, partly through lower standing charges. Its fixed tariffs are designed to track below the cap for the contract term. Ofgem also updated its Typical Domestic Consumption Values from 1 July 2026 to reflect lower use for a medium home. Because these figures move quarterly, always check the current cap before comparing tariffs. Our guide to smart meters and the price cap goes deeper on how the two interact.

See how Fuse compares against the price cap

Why is my Fuse smart meter offline or not working?

A Fuse smart meter usually shows offline or stops sending readings because of a weak mobile signal at the meter’s location, not a fault with the meter itself. Smart meters connect through a dedicated wireless network rather than your home WiFi, so poor mobile coverage indoors, a meter tucked in a basement or a cupboard, or a temporary network outage are the most common causes. Newer 4G comms hubs help in areas where older signals struggle, and some customers may be offered a connectivity upgrade to improve performance.

Where a smart meter has not connected since installation, it can sometimes take a few days to commission fully as the network registers it. If readings still fail after that, contact Fuse to check the connection and arrange support. In the meantime, submit manual meter readings so your bills stay accurate rather than estimated. Keep an eye on the in-home display too, because a blank or frozen IHD often signals the same underlying connection problem.

• Weak mobile signal at the meter is the most common cause of an offline meter.
• Newly installed meters can take a few days to commission and connect.
• Submit manual readings while a meter is offline to avoid estimated bills.
• A blank in-home display usually points to the same connectivity issue.

Do smart meters have to be compulsory, and can I refuse one?

Smart meters are not compulsory in the UK, and you can refuse installation and stay on a traditional meter. No energy supplier can force a smart meter on you, and declining one does not stop you switching supplier or staying on a single-rate tariff. The trade-off is that you keep submitting manual meter readings, miss the half-hourly usage data in the app, and cannot access Fuse’s time-of-use tariffs, which need a dual-rate compatible smart meter.

Some households worry that a smart meter can be used to cut off supply remotely or that it overcharges. In practice the meter records usage and reports it; the readings feed your bill under the same capped unit rates any meter would. If you are on the Priority Services Register or have accessibility needs, you can ask your supplier for extra support around installation. Whether a smart meter suits you comes down to whether you want the usage insight and off-peak access, or prefer to keep things as they are.

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Information correct as of 18 August 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).