The law industry is committed to becoming more sustainable. But with energy costs rising, many practices are understandably worried about the impact of higher bills.

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The Law Society has been supporting solicitors to develop a climate-conscious approach to their practices through its climate change resolution. However, there is one further step practices could take to both help control their energy usage and be more sustainable. Smart meters are the new generation of gas and electricity meters: they automatically send gas and electricity readings direct to your energy supplier.

Here are three ways smart meters aim to make your practice’s energy usage fairer and more transparent.

1. Sustainability

Reduce your practice's environmental impact with a smart meter

One of the most effective and easy steps you can take to reduce your environmental impact is to get a smart meter.

Business owners know that energy use is a key part of their environmental footprint. But with IT, heating, lighting and technology all essential to everyday operations, many feel they do not know where to start when it comes to reducing energy use.

That is where smart meters can help.

Help to create a more efficient-energy system. Getting a smart meter could help you reduce the environmental impact of your business. Moreover, you are contributing to the creation of a smarter nationwide energy system.

By providing suppliers with more accurate readings, they gain a much clearer picture of how energy demand changes throughout the day and year. This helps them to plan for peak times and prioritise the use of renewables over fossil fuels when meeting demand.

For practices like yours, those smart tariffs could offer a way to reduce your energy costs, while helping reduce our nation's carbon footprint.

2. Control

Bills based on how much energy you use

Having a smart meter means your business gets a bill based on how much energy you have used – not an estimate. This is invaluable if you have taken steps recently to reduce your energy use. It could also be good news from a cashflow perspective, especially if your energy use increases or decreases. Your bills will reflect that.

3. Accuracy

Budget with more accuracy with a smart meter

Whether for day-to-day cashflow or longer-term decisions about investment, staffing or operations, businesses rely on accurate budgeting. A smart meter can help with that, by giving you extra insight into one key part of your expenditure: your energy costs.

Forecasting based on accurate bills

As smart meters put an end to estimated bills, this means that they are more accurate and up-to-date: your energy use data is sent automatically and regularly to your supplier. Moreover, you do not have to remember to read the meters. But it also means that you can use your previous bills as a sound basis for forecasting future costs and budgeting.

Getting a smart meter for your practice

Any small business with fewer than 10 employees could be eligible for a smart meter. So, if you’re ready for more accurate billing and greater control of your energy usage, contact your supplier for more information about smart meter installation. It takes just two hours and can take place at a time that’s convenient for you.

If you run your practice from a domestic premises, you should also be eligible for a smart meter – every home in Great Britain will be offered one by the end of 2025. And if you’re in a rented premises, as long as you pay the bills, you can request a smart meter.

Most energy suppliers can be fairly flexible about installation timings, so you can find a time that will limit disruption to your business, whether that’s in the evening or even on a Saturday. Remember, your electricity and/or gas will have to be turned off while the installation takes place.

Depending on your supplier and your tariff, you may even be able to get a smart meter at no extra cost.

For more information about the benefits of installing a smart meter in your workplace, visit Smart Energy GB at smartenergyGB.org or search ‘get a smart meter’ today.

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