Upgrades & Downgrades: changing your meter's capacity
Need more or less power at your property?
What you need to know
Is this the right place?
This page is for domestic customers who need more or less electricity/gas at their property.
If you are a business and are looking to upgrade or downgrade, please contact Octopus Energy for Business.
How long does it take?
For electricity, these jobs can take between 6 and 8 weeks.
For gas, these jobs can range from 4 to 6 weeks.
Who does what?
Octopus will only sort the metering side of these jobs.
While some homes are ready for a supply change, most require upgrades from their local electricity Distribution Network Operator (DNO) or Gas Distribution Network (GDN) network operator first.
Where to start?
Ready to get going? Fill out our Request Form - this is the fastest way to start the process and get a quick overview of what we can do.
We may need a bit more information, but in most cases, we can book your appointment straight away.
Most customers only do this once in their lifetime - we’re here to guide you through it. If you have any questions, just ask.
Powering Up - increasing your supply
Have you added new tech to your home, or moved in and found your current supply just isn’t enough? Whatever the reason (and as long as your local network has approved it), we’ll help you find the right meter setup.
Electricity Upgrades
What you need to know about electricity upgrades
Since electricity upgrades are more complex, they’re handled by our small but dedicated team of three-phase specialists.
That's why our timelines can be a little longer - between 6-8 weeks.
We do whole current up to 100amps, and anything about that requires a special current transformer meter, more info below.
Timeline
Before we can install your new electricity meter, your property needs an electricity connection to the grid. If you don’t have one, take a look at our New Connections page to get sorted.
Speak to an electrician to confirm the capacity you need, for example, single-phase to three-phase. They should advise whether your existing supply is ready for more juice or if it needs a top-up.
If a supply upgrade is required, request a quote and confirm a planned upgrade date with the DNO (at least 4-6 weeks away!). Then, contact us once the network date is confirmed.
Once you have a DNO upgrade date (or confirmation that no upgrade is required), submit a request to us, and we can arrange the meter work. Electricity upgrades typically need around 4-6 weeks' notice.
Upgrading to Three-phase
You may need a three-phase setup if you want to draw significantly more power from the grid. This is common in larger domestic properties that may have a lot of low-carbon tech such as solar panels and home batteries.
Three-phase meters are usually necessary only for large industrial and commercial businesses that use a lot of electricity. A three-phase meter has three wires with three alternating currents (AC) supplying the meter and site, so much more power can be used.
We commonly get requests for three-phase meters when businesses are building a new site that will use a lot of electricity, or when they are expanding their operations or sites.
Good to know:
If a three-phase cutout is present but has only one meter, your DNO must confirm that all phases are live and fused. This means your supply is ready for extra juice! We do not provide or replace fuses.
For a single-phase supply, the DNO will quote you separately for a three-phase upgrade.
Once a three-phase head is on-site or an upgrade date is set, submit the Request Form. We require at least 6 weeks' notice for same-day DNO upgrades.
Upgrading to Two-phase
This is identical to a three-phase upgrade, but uses only two phases. All the same requirements apply.
Upgrading Single-phase to Three-phase
This process mirrors the steps above but replaces multiple single-phase meters with a single three-phase meter.
All you need to do is specify which supply points to keep and which to de-energise.
As we are going down to a single-phase meter, you no longer need three supply points.
Single phase/Three phase to CT (Current Transformer)
Most homes run on a standard supply, but if you’re building something substantial or high-capacity, you might need a CT (Current Transformer) supply. These are specialist installs managed by third-party experts. We'll need 2–3 months' notice to get them on-site.
Please note: We handle CT upgrades or downgrades only - no new connections. When upgrading to a CT supply, your network operator doesn’t need to issue a new supply number (MPAN); the supply point should stay the same.
Gas Upgrades
What you need to know about gas upgrades
These big meters are a bit more complex than your average home setup, so we bring in our expert engineering partners to get the job done safely.
It usually takes 4–6 weeks from start to finish, but this can shift depending on where you are in the UK.
We always aim to install a U16 Smart meter first, so you can track your usage in the Octopus Energy app. If those aren’t available in your area yet, or if you're upgrading to the heavy-duty U25, we’ll fit a traditional or AMR (automated) model.
Before we install these larger meters, we need to ensure your pipes can handle the increased flow. This typically involves a technical survey, known as a GT1, with your GDN (timelines for these can vary based on region):
They’ll check things like supply pressure and pipe size. This can take anywhere from a few days (if they have all the info on file) or a few months (if they need to go out to the site).
If you’re already working with the network operator on a service upgrade, just send us your Quotation Document. If it has all the technical specs, we can usually skip the GT1 survey and head straight to the install.
Once we have the "all clear," we need about 4 weeks' notice to get our specialists on-site.
To keep things safe, we’ll leave the new meter capped. You’ll need to arrange your own Gas Safe engineer to connect it to your appliances and get the gas flowing.
Timeline
Speak to a Gas Safe engineer to confirm the meter size you need (for example, upgrading from a U6 to a U16 or U25). They should check the total demand of all of your appliances to confirm the required capacity.
Check whether the Gas Distribution Network (GDN) needs to confirm or alter the incoming supply. For larger meters, they may need to verify the supply capacity and pressure.
If an upgrade is required, request a quote and confirm a planned upgrade date with the GDN (at least 4-6 weeks away!). Then contact us once the network date is confirmed
Once you have a GDN upgrade date (or confirmation that no upgrade is required), submit the request, and we can arrange the meter work. Gas upgrades typically need around 4-6 weeks' notice.
Downgrades - reducing your supply
Have too much power at your home or business that you don’t need? We’ve got you covered; we’ll manage the meter exchange for you.
Anything to do with the grid, you would need to speak to your local DNO. In most cases, your high-capacity grid connection will remain as is, while your meter capacity is reduced to match your actual usage.
Electricity
Much like with electricity upgrades, we do not need to issue a new supply point for electricity downgrades. You will keep your original MPAN.
Downgrading from Three-phase to One-phase
Before requesting a downgrade, your electrician must confirm that a single-phase supply meets your power needs.
Please note that switching to single-phase does not typically reduce your tariff or standing charges; your bill remains based on actual usage.
We will replace your three-phase meter with a single-phase model.
Three-phase CT (Current Transformer) to Single-phase
Moving from a high-capacity (CT) supply back to a standard (Whole Current) one is a tag-team effort between us and your local network operator (the DNO).
First, your DNO needs to visit to downgrade your incoming connection or fit a conversion kit.
Then two technicians will attend - one to safely remove the larger CT meter and another to install your new standard meter.
We need at least 4 weeks’ notice of the date your DNO is scheduled to come out so we can sync up our teams.
What do I need to do?
You must arrange for an electrician to attend afterwards to reconnect your internal wiring (consumer unit), as we cannot reconnect it once the capacity has changed.
Gas Downgrades
If you're reducing your gas capacity, the process is simple! We don't need a GT1 or a quote - just photos of your current meter, the surrounding space, and the Emergency Control Valve (ECV).
We typically use National Gas Metering for the downgrade. You will need to contact us separately to organise a U6/U16 smart meter. This may change in the future.
We install reducer rings on the ECV to fit the smaller meter. We cannot modify the ECV itself, as it is owned by the network operator.
As with all meter changes, you will need a Gas Safe engineer to reconnect your appliances afterwards.
Frequently asked questions
No. You’ll need an electrician or a gas safe engineer to assess your property and confirm the capacity you need before requesting any work.
Usually not. Most upgrades and downgrades keep the same supply point number. However, some electricity upgrades do require a new MPAN. We can help with this, just get in touch.
Possibly. Your DNO must confirm that all phases are live and correctly fused before we can install a three-phase meter.
Octopus doesn’t charge for standard metering work. Your DNO and/or GDN, electrician or gas safe engineer may charge for any work they carry out.
Whole Current meters are used for standard supplies up to 100A per phase. CT meters are used for larger, higher-capacity supplies. Your DNO will be able to confirm if your supply is/will be CT.
No. We don’t offer emergency upgrades or downgrades. To avoid delays, please contact us as soon as you have a planned date from your DNO, GDN, electrician or gas safe engineer.
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