How to cut bills by up to 50% in under 12 months - even in exempt Sheltered Housing

The energy crisis has turned once comfortable assumptions into costly risks, particularly within the management of communal heating systems, with sheltered housing schemes particularly affected.

Why sheltered housing schemes are feeling the pressure

These developments are currently exempt from metering obligations, with many operators using flat-rate tariffs to keep things simple and help protect vulnerable residents. Predictable costs brought peace of mind, but the changes to pricing seen since the energy crisis means that approach no longer works as it once did.

Upcoming 2026 Heat Network Regulations

Regulatory changes expected as soon as January 2026 bringing consumer protection to the industry for the first time, and technical standards following, flat-rate pricing could become an unsustainable model for operators. Consumption-based billing through meters means that residents will only pay for their own usage, rather than being impacted by their Neighbour's. On the other side operators with no insight into the heat network will not see the issues with either the consumption of their residents, or the performance of their network, inevitably leading to poorer outcomes for all parties.

Real-world results show how powerful smart metering can be - in some cases, reducing heat use by up to 50% in the first year alone.

In sheltered housing schemes, where the baseline assumption is often high vulnerability and low adaptability, these results are very significant. It shows that residents, even those who are considered more vulnerable, can take control of their usage when given the right tools and support. 

Proven benefits of smart heat metering

Metering is not just about billing; it’s about enabling visibility and restoring fairness.

For operators a well-functioning heat network depends on accurate consumption data, system efficiency and proactive maintenance, all of which smart meters enhance. For residents it provides transparency, a way to save money and feel in control.

For any heat network operator still assuming that utilsing metering exemptions is a viable way of avoiding the cost of installation and operations of meters, the reality is that by leveraging metering data operators can reduce costs and improve service quality.

Smart metering shouldn’t be seen as optional; it's the key to unlocking smarter more efficient energy management.

Want to learn more about how smart meters can reduce costs and drive efficiency? 

Our webinar How heat meters can mitigate the energy crisis breaks it down with real-world examples. Get in touch to find out how our smart metering solutions can support your heat network goals.