I know I am missing the point . . .
Dear me. I have been a householder for the forty years since I got married and in all that time I have only ever looked at an electricity meter if I have been asked to provide a reading rather than have an estimated bill. I am reasonably sure that my wife knows where the electric meter is but I am equally sure that she has never looked at the array of numbers on it.
But I don't need a smart meter to keep a wary eye on electricity consumption. I get a reminder every three months - it's called an electric bill !
Chris Cosgrove