South East Water has begun replacing its customers’ water meters with smart meters, with plans to upgrade around 900,000 meters across its supply area by 2035. The company is delivering the programme with Connexin, which is providing the communications network, and Clancy Group, which is carrying out installation.
The roll-out started in January 2026 in parts of Kent. By the end of the first phase on 31 March 2026, more than 13,000 household and non-household properties in Canterbury and Whitstable had been upgraded. The company expects to have installed almost 300,000 smart meters by 2030 and to complete the full programme of nearly 900,000 meters by 2035.
Smart meters record water use throughout the day and send the data back to the utility automatically, giving customers close to real-time information on how much water they use and helping them manage their bills. The same data allows South East Water to identify customer-side leaks more quickly, supporting faster repairs and reducing water lost across the network.
About 90 per cent of South East Water’s 2.3 million domestic customers already have a water meter fitted. The company says research indicates that metered customers use, on average, around 15 per cent less water than unmetered customers.
Rowena Hammond, Head of Customer Demand Management at South East Water, said the company’s aim was to deliver a resilient water future and that smart meters were central to that. She said the technology would give customers more timely information on their usage and spending, while giving staff the visibility needed to identify customer-side leaks more quickly and reduce water lost through leakage.
Dan Preece, VP IoT Growth at Connexin, said the communications network was designed to ensure data from every meter reached South East Water reliably, securely and close to real time, supporting faster leak detection and better customer outcomes.
Mike Hardiman, Operations Director at Clancy, said the company was supporting a programme intended to bring long-term benefits to customers and communities across the region, with a focus on delivering the roll-out safely and efficiently.
South East Water supplies 2.3 million customers across parts of Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. The company points to projected water stress in south east England by 2030, driven by population growth and environmental pressures, and to recent supply issues in Kent during hot weather, as reasons for prioritising water efficiency and leak reduction. Smart metering features in its Water Resources Management Plan and supports a target to halve leakage by 2050.
Most customers do not need to be present for installation, as meters are generally located outside the property. Where a meter is inside a property, the company says it will contact the customer to arrange a convenient appointment. Further information is available on the South East Water meter upgrade page.
The programme follows similar moves elsewhere in the UK water sector. Yorkshire Water has set out plans to install 1.3 million smart water meters to improve service and reduce leakage, and is using an advanced metering framework to drive leakage and per-capita consumption reductions.
Frequently asked questions
When will South East Water finish installing the smart meters?
The roll-out began in January 2026 and is due to be completed by 2035, with around 300,000 of the meters expected to be installed by 2030.
How do smart meters help detect leaks?
Because the meters send near real-time usage data automatically, unusual or continuous flow can be spotted sooner, helping the company and customers identify customer-side leaks and arrange repairs more quickly.
Do customers need to be at home for the meter to be installed?
Most customers do not, as meters are usually located outside the property. If a meter is inside a property, South East Water says it will contact the customer to book a suitable time.
Who is delivering the programme?
South East Water is working with Connexin, which provides the Internet of Things communications network, and Clancy Group, which is carrying out the meter installations.
Source: South East Water
