Leading the Charge: How Calisen Is Powering the Future of Smart Metering

On 8 August the UK government released the Smart Metering Policy Framework post-2025 consultation, setting out the roadmap for completing the rollout and maintaining functionality of smart meters by 2030.

 

It’s a clear signal: the smart meter journey is far from over. The next phase will require just as much focus, innovation and collaboration as the initial install programme - if not more.

 

At Calisen, we’re not only helping energy suppliers complete the rollout - we’re already thinking beyond it. 

 

The rollout isn’t ‘done’ - it’s shifting

 

The next five-ten years will challenge suppliers to do more than just install. The focus is already moving to the final 30% of homes and small businesses - the most complex and reluctant segment.

 

These installs won’t be achieved through blanket communications and standard appointment windows. They’ll require bespoke customer engagement, education and highly skilled operatives who can resolve technical issues on site.

 

This is where the strategy changes. We’re not just managing volume anymore. We’re solving for complexity, exception cases and individual journeys.

 

After installation: the performance era

 

Smart meter technology continues to evolve. Once rollout targets are met, the priority becomes performance. Are you delivering on the promise of smart technology? Are your meters communicating reliably? Are they enabling customers to reduce usage and access better tariffs?

 

Maintaining connectivity, proactively managing upgrades and planning for large-scale interventions - like the 4G comms hub replacement programme, impacting 13 million meters by 2033 - will define the next decade of supplier operations.

 

This will take more than scheduling visits. It will require strategic planning, risk-based asset assessments and an agile field force that’s both skilled and scalable.

 

The RTS switch-off: a blueprint for what’s next

 

Take the Radio Teleswitch (RTS) switch-off. It’s a timely example of the complexity ahead: technically challenging installs, non-standard meter configurations and the need to target and engage a very specific customer group. It’s a lesson in having the right skills in the right places - and a clear case for workforce flexibility and operational foresight.

 

We see the 4G comms hub rollout as the next big operational test. Not because it’s technically difficult, but because it’s logistically huge. Millions of homes need a visit. The key will be delivering it smartly. That means aggregating work across suppliers, optimising scheduling, reducing travel and deploying the right blend of skilled and semi-skilled resource.

 

Calisen is already leading in this space. As a major delivery partner in the DCC-led Initial Pallet Validation (IPV) pilot, we installed nearly 20% of the 9,000 trial hubs rolled out across England and Wales, gaining critical insight into process, technology and operational logistics.

 

Our successful delivery in this early phase shows we’re not just ready for the full rollout - we’re helping to shape how it’s done. Read more about our involvement in the IPV.

 

We’re already asking: how can we help the industry tackle this efficiently at scale?

 

MHHS: when smart data becomes mission critical

 

Then there’s Market-Wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS). Once live, it will rely on accurate, frequent and timely meter reads - and that puts pressure on smart meter performance.

 

To succeed, suppliers need:

• A high smart meter penetration rate
• Reliable data flows
• A plan for resolving non-communicating meters at scale

 

This is where Calisen Smart 360 comes in - our service for identifying and resolving communication issues, proactively fixing problems before they escalate and supporting manual reads where needed.

 

It’s smart support, designed for the smart meter age. Find out more about Calisen Smart 360.

 

From asset owner to strategic partner

 

As an asset owner, we’re evolving too. The future of energy metering won’t just be about fixing problems when told. It will be about prevention, prediction and proactive support.

 

That’s why we’re investing in blended field teams preparing to use unified systems. Our 550+ smart meter installers and 350 meter readers will be using the same handheld devices, the same processes and the same scheduling system - which will allow us to deploy them flexibly, where and when they’re needed most.

 

We’re also preparing for a more collaborative future. For smaller and mid-sized suppliers, that’s where Calisen can step in as a trusted strategic partner - capitalising on our partnerships with larger suppliers to offer the knowledge, workforce and nationwide operational expertise.

 

Smart metering is entering its next era. Let’s lead it together.

 

The challenges are shifting, but so are the opportunities. From optimising asset performance to delivering value from data, the next phase of smart metering is where real impact will be made.

 

Calisen is ready - with the scale, skills and mindset to help energy suppliers navigate what’s next. Let’s look ahead and shape the future of smart energy together.