Britain’s smart meter network has entered a new phase as control of the data system linking 39 million devices moves from Smart DCC, a subsidiary of Capita, to a not-for-profit successor. The transfer brings to a close a 13-year licence period for the company that has operated the national communications infrastructure behind Great Britain’s smart meters.
The change is significant because the platform sits at the centre of the country’s energy retail system. It enables consumption data and operational messages to pass between meters, suppliers and other authorised parties, allowing households and businesses to be billed using automated readings rather than manual submissions. The network also supports the wider transition to a more flexible electricity system, where accurate usage data is increasingly important for tariffs, demand management and grid planning.
The handover follows a troubled period for the programme, marked by delays and rising costs over more than a decade. Smart DCC has said the move to the new operator will be seamless, a key assurance for energy suppliers and consumers who depend on daily meter communications. Any interruption could complicate billing, switching and customer service across Great Britain, where smart meters have become a core part of the regulated energy market.
The end of Capita’s licence also underlines the changing governance of critical digital infrastructure in the energy sector. Oversight of the smart meter system involves public policy objectives, consumer protection and market reliability, areas closely watched by Ofgem and government bodies. Moving day-to-day control to a not-for-profit structure is intended to separate the operation of the network from the commercial model that defined its first phase, while preserving continuity for suppliers and meter users.
For consumers, the immediate test will be whether the transition changes anything in practice. The smart meter rollout has long been judged not only by installation numbers, but by whether devices communicate reliably and deliver the promised benefits. With 39 million meters connected to the system, the new operator inherits one of the country’s most important energy data networks and a clear priority: keeping it stable while restoring confidence after years of scrutiny over delivery and cost.