Can You Get Solar Panels Without a Smart Meter?

The Short Answer

Yes, you can get solar panels installed without a smart meter. There is no legal or technical requirement to have one before your panels go up. Your solar system will generate electricity and power your home regardless of what type of meter you have.

However — and this is important — you will need a smart meter to earn money from the electricity you export back to the grid via the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Without one, you are giving away free electricity to your energy supplier and leaving hundreds of pounds on the table each year.

What Does a Smart Meter Actually Do With Solar?

A smart meter measures electricity flowing in both directions — what you import from the grid and what you export back to it. With solar panels, this two-way measurement matters because your system will often generate more electricity than you are using, especially during sunny afternoons.

Here is what happens with each meter type:

• Smart meter (SMETS2): Automatically records your exports in real time. Your energy supplier can see exactly how much you have sent back to the grid and pay you accordingly via the SEG
• Traditional (non-smart) meter: Only measures what you import. Your exports go unrecorded, unmeasured, and unpaid
• Old Economy 7 or dual-rate meter: These sometimes run backwards when you export, which technically means you get credited — but suppliers are not happy about it, and it is not a long-term solution

Why Energy Suppliers Want You to Have a Smart Meter

The SEG requires energy suppliers to pay you for the electricity you export. But they need a way to measure it. Under the SEG rules set by Ofgem, suppliers must receive metered export data — they cannot just estimate it.

A smart meter (specifically a SMETS2 meter with an export MPAN registered) is the standard way to provide this data. Without it, most suppliers simply will not sign you up to an SEG tariff. A few suppliers previously accepted deemed exports (estimating you export 50% of generation), but this approach has been phased out for new SEG applications.

The bottom line: no smart meter means no export payments. On a typical 4kWp system, that is £100-270 per year you are missing out on, depending on your SEG rate and how much you export.

Can Your Solar Installer Arrange a Smart Meter?

Your solar installer cannot fit a smart meter — that is your energy supplier's responsibility. However, a good MCS-certified installer like Depth of Light will guide you through the process and tell you exactly when to request one.

Here is the typical process we recommend to our customers in Milton Keynes and across Buckinghamshire:

1. Book your solar installation — You do not need to wait for the smart meter before getting panels fitted
2. Request a smart meter from your energy supplier — Contact them as soon as you have a confirmed installation date. Most suppliers can fit one within 2-4 weeks
3. Get your solar panels installed — Your system works immediately, saving you money on every kWh you use directly
4. Register for the SEG — Once your smart meter is in and your MCS certificate is issued, apply for an SEG tariff. You will need your MCS certificate number and your export MPAN
5. Start earning — Export payments usually begin within a few weeks of your SEG application being approved

We handle the MCS certification and DNO notification. You just need to make that call to your supplier about the smart meter.

What If You Have an Old Meter?

If you still have a traditional analogue meter or an older SMETS1 smart meter, here is what you need to know:

Traditional Analogue Meter

Your solar panels will work fine. You will save money on every unit of electricity you generate and use yourself. The only thing you cannot do is get paid for exports. Contact your energy supplier and request a SMETS2 smart meter upgrade — it is completely free, and they are legally obligated to offer you one.

SMETS1 Smart Meter

These early smart meters sometimes lose their "smart" functionality when you switch suppliers. Most SMETS1 meters have now been enrolled into the DCC (Data Communications Company) network, which means they should work like SMETS2 meters. Check with your supplier whether your SMETS1 meter supports export measurement. If it does not, request a SMETS2 upgrade.

Prepayment Meter

You can absolutely have solar panels with a prepayment meter. You will still benefit from reduced imports during daylight hours. For SEG payments, you will likely need a smart prepayment meter. Speak to your supplier about upgrading — smart prepayment meters are also free.

Benefits of Getting a Smart Meter With Solar

Beyond unlocking SEG payments, a smart meter paired with solar panels gives you several practical advantages:

• Track generation vs consumption in real time: See exactly when you are using solar and when you are drawing from the grid. Most smart meters come with an in-home display (IHD) that shows this clearly
• Maximise self-consumption: When you can see your generation live, you naturally shift heavy-use appliances — dishwashers, washing machines, EV charging — to peak solar hours
• Access time-of-use tariffs: Smart tariffs like Octopus Flux, Intelligent Octopus Go, and similar products require a smart meter. These tariffs let you import cheaply overnight and export at premium rates during peak hours — often 15-24p/kWh instead of the standard 7-12p SEG rate
• Better data for adding a battery: If you are considering battery storage in the future, smart meter data helps you (and your installer) size the battery correctly based on your actual export patterns
• Accurate billing: No more estimated bills. Your supplier gets real readings automatically, so you only pay for what you actually use

How Much Could You Earn From Exports?

Here is what typical export earnings look like for different system sizes in 2026, based on a mid-range SEG rate of 10p/kWh:

• 3kWp system (8-9 panels): Exports around 1,350 kWh/year = £135/year
• 4kWp system (10-12 panels): Exports around 1,800 kWh/year = £180/year
• 5kWp system (12-14 panels): Exports around 2,250 kWh/year = £225/year

These figures assume around 50% self-consumption without a battery. Add a battery and your exports drop (because you are storing more for evening use), but your overall savings increase because you are using more of your own electricity at 28p/kWh rather than selling it at 10p.

On a time-of-use export tariff, these figures can be 50-100% higher. But you need a smart meter to access any of them.

Our Recommendation

At Depth of Light, we always advise our customers to get a smart meter. It is free, it takes 30 minutes to install, and it unlocks the full financial benefit of your solar investment.

Do not let the lack of a smart meter delay your solar installation though. Get the panels up, start saving on your electricity bills immediately, and get the smart meter sorted in parallel. Most of our customers in Milton Keynes have their smart meter fitted within a few weeks of their solar installation — sometimes even before.

The key point: solar panels save you money from day one, with or without a smart meter. But a smart meter ensures you are earning everything you are entitled to.

Want to see how much you could save and earn? Use our free solar calculator — it takes two minutes, and you will get real numbers based on your roof and usage.

Frequently Asked Questions