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Smart Meters Explained: What They Measure and How to Use Them

Smart meters track your energy in detail and power time-of-use tariffs. What they do, what data you can access, and how to use them with solar.

WaterFuelAndSolarEnergy.com Editorial Team Updated December 2024 7 min read

A smart meter records your electricity use in detail — often at 30-minute intervals — and is usually required for solar exports and time-of-use tariffs. The data it collects is the single most useful asset for energy decisions.

What a smart meter enables

  • Interval usage data for accurate solar sizing
  • Net metering / feed-in for grid exports
  • Time-of-use billing windows
  • Remote reads — no more estimated bills
Do I need a smart meter for solar?
In most regions, yes — you need one for net metering/feed-in. Your distributor usually arranges it as part of connection.