Social research agency IFF Research is conducting a study on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) that explores businesses’ experiences of having a smart meter installed. Bira is supporting IFF Research to reach out to businesses who may be looking to have a SMART meter installed and interested in taking part in this research.

The research is targeted at GB-based businesses with fewer than 250 employees and turnover of less than £25m who don't have a smart meter. If eligible, taking part consists of getting a smart meter installed at a business premise – via their existing energy supplier – and completing four short online surveys capturing their experience at each stage of the process.

Why should businesses take part? 

  • Each business that completes every stage of the research will receive £200 as a thank-you for their participation.
  • Smart meters automatically send energy readings directly to the supplier ensuring energy bills are accurate and saving businesses time taking meter readings.
  • Businesses can also request free access to up to 12 months of their smart meter data from their energy supplier, helping them to monitor and understand their energy use, and identify how they can make savings.
  • Participating in the research won’t add much time to the smart meter installation journey, with each survey taking around 10 minutes to complete.
  • Participation and feedback in this research will help the Government understand how the rollout is going, identify improvements, and help to improve the infrastructure around energy production and provision to households and businesses.
  • Having a smart meter installed is one action businesses can take to help GB ensure we have a secure and reliable energy supply.
  • Suppliers are increasingly offering value-added tools and services to their non-domestic customers with smart meters, including a requirement to provide free and regular energy use information to these customers by October 2024.

More information about the research is available on the IFF Research website, and a quick video explaining the process of the research.

Find out more and take part here