Return of Legacy Meters
Summary
The issue identified is that current arrangements require or assume that legacy Meter Asset Providers (MAPs) take back old, non Smart Meters once they are removed from Consumers’ Premises, even though many of these meters are obsolete, cannot be reused, and ultimately require disposal. This has resulted in large volumes of legacy meters being transported across the country between storage providers and legacy MAPs, creating unnecessary cost, administrative burden, and environmental impact. Storage providers are issuing extensive lists of Meter Serial Numbers (MSN) to try to establish meter ownership, and legacy MAPs must manually verify these details. This process has been made more difficult by historical changes in company names and ownership structures. Once ownership is confirmed, the meters are frequently transported to the legacy MAP only for them to arrange disposal, which provides no net value and simply adds further transportation and handling costs.
Latest update and next planned activity
Date of latest update
Latest Update
08/04/2026 - The Closure Report was presented to the REC Metering Expert Panel at their meeting on 08 April 2026. The Issue has now been classed as resolved.
Impacts Overview
Impacted REC Parties and Market Participants
Distribution Network Operator
Energy Supplier
Meter Asset Manager
Meter Asset Provider
Priority and rationale
Standard
Priority last updated on 17 Sep 2026
Solution development
Problem Statement
The process for handling removed legacy non Smart Meters is inefficient and environmentally costly, with unclear ownership, unnecessary transport, and no established recycling route. A consistent, sustainable disposal solution is needed to reduce waste, simplify operations, and clarify the management of any scrap value.
No documents available.
There is currently no Change Plan.
Original submission
Change details
- - -
23 Sep 2025
Change details
Return of Legacy Meters
Do all Meter Asset Providers want their old meters returning?
There will be thousands if not millions of non-smart legacy meters being transported around the country at a cost and with an environmental impact. Is anyone recycling these meters or is disposal being arranged once they have been returned? Consequently, is there a net value in the return of old meters which then need to be disposed of?
There will be thousands if not millions of non-smart legacy meters being transported around the country at a cost and with an environmental impact. Is anyone recycling these meters or is disposal being arranged once they have been returned? Consequently, is there a net value in the return of old meters which then need to be disposed of?
Storage providers are issuing lists of assets they are holding in an attempt to identify who the original Meter Asset Provider was. This involves Meter Asset Providers checking serial numbers to establish whether they own the asset, notifying the Storage Provider of the outcome and then where appropriate taking delivery of those assets to arrange for disposal. It is worth noting that over the years company names have changed which could make it more difficult to identify the original asset owner.
We are not aware of any recycling of these assets to be re-used, consequently we would like to see an option of them being disposed in an environmentally friendly way once removed. How any residual value is treated would need careful consideration. It could be any scrap value obtained would stay with the Storage Provider to offset costs or returned to the Legacy Meter Asset Provider. Electricity meters must be delivered and Gas meters collected so overall collection by a waste management company would seem appropriate [cut out the middle man] rather than transportation across the country.
No
Impacts
No details provided
Other (please provide details in Additional information box below)
We do not expect customers to be directly impacted. Recycling of legacy meters has an environmental benefit.
No details provided
-
Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP)
Clause 22.2.12 of the ‘Consolidated Metering Code of Practice (CoMCoP)’ states 'Metering Equipment must be returned to the meter asset provider (unless subject to alternative commercial arrangements).The use of the phrase ‘commercial arrangements’ may indeed cover disposal, but there would need to be many bilateral agreements put in place making the process quite cumbersome.
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
No details provided
-
Distribution Network Operators, Energy Suppliers, Meter Asset Manager, Meter Asset Providers
-
No details provided
-
-
No details provided
Priority & timing
No
-
-
-
No details provided
Other (please provide details in the Additional information box below)