Is a caller offering a smart meter installation from my energy company real?
Genuine smart meter schemes exist in many countries, but cold callers asking for access to your home or upfront payment are often scammers impersonating energy companies.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Explanation
Energy company impersonation scams involve cold callers — by phone or doorstep — claiming to be from your supplier and offering free smart meter installation or an energy efficiency survey. They may ask to enter your home, take meter readings, and then claim a problem requires payment for a 'repair'. Some steal meter readings to clone energy accounts; others steal household items during the visit. In a phone variant, they ask for your account number and payment details to 'register' the new meter. Genuine smart meter rollouts are managed through official government and energy supplier programmes. Your actual supplier will contact you by letter or through your online account, not by cold call demanding home access that day.
Common red flags
- Unsolicited doorstep visit offering immediate free meter installation
- Caller asks for your bank details to process the installation
- Offers to reduce your bill immediately in exchange for access to your home
- Caller becomes pushy when you ask to call your supplier to verify
What to do now
- Do not let anyone into your home without verifying their identity first
- Call your energy supplier using the number on your bill to check for any real scheme
- If you gave personal or payment details, contact your bank immediately
- Report doorstep fraud to your national consumer protection authority
Frequently asked questions
How can I verify a doorstep energy worker is genuine?
Ask for their employee ID, then close the door and call your supplier's official number to confirm they sent someone. Genuine engineers will wait or reschedule.