en.Wedoany.com Reported - South East Water has launched a smart meter replacement project, planning to upgrade approximately 900,000 meters within its supply area by 2035. The project is supported by Connexin for IoT communication network provision, with Clancy Group responsible for installation.

The project began in parts of Kent in January 2026. By the end of the first phase on March 31, 2026, over 13,000 residential and non-residential properties in Canterbury and Whitstable had been upgraded. The company expects to install nearly 300,000 smart meters by 2030 and complete the full upgrade of nearly 900,000 meters by 2035.

Smart meters record water usage throughout the day and automatically transmit data back to the water company, enabling customers to understand their water consumption almost in real time and helping manage water bills. This data also allows South East Water to detect customer-side leaks more quickly, speeding up repairs and reducing water loss in the network.

Approximately 90% of South East Water's 2.3 million residential customers already have meters installed. The company states that research shows metered customers use about 15% less water on average than unmetered customers.

Rowena Hammond, Head of Customer Demand Management at South East Water, said the company's goal is to achieve a resilient water future, and smart meters are central to this objective. This technology will provide customers with more timely information on water usage and costs, while enabling staff to detect customer-side leaks more rapidly, reducing water loss from leaks.

Dan Preece, Vice President of IoT Growth at Connexin, stated that the communication network is designed to ensure data from each meter is transmitted reliably, securely, and almost in real time to South East Water, supporting faster leak detection and better customer service.

Mike Hardiman, Operations Director at Clancy Group, said the company is supporting a program aimed at delivering long-term benefits for customers and communities across the region, with a focus on completing installations safely and efficiently.

South East Water supplies 2.3 million customers in parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent. Due to population growth and environmental pressures, water stress is expected in Southeast England by 2030, and recent water supply issues in Kent during hot weather have also prioritized improving water efficiency and reducing leaks. Smart meters are part of its Water Resources Management Plan and support the goal of halving leakage by 2050.

Most customers do not need to be at home for installation, as meters are typically located outdoors. If the meter is installed indoors, the company says it will contact customers to arrange a suitable appointment time.

This project follows similar initiatives elsewhere in the UK water industry. Yorkshire Water has plans to install 1.3 million smart meters to improve service and reduce leaks, and is using an advanced metering framework to drive reductions in leakage and per capita consumption.

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