From the CTO of the Data Communications Company (the organisation behind smart meter infrastructure in the UK):

> Our second-generation meter solution is primarily based on the 3G network which has commitments through to 2033 based on our current contract, so this service remains mainly unaffected for the next 11 years.

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/news-events/2g-sunset-looking-int...

I read somewhere that electricity meters are switching to a scheme where they do low speed data transmission over the power cables and the data is collected at each substation. Gas uses plastic pipes now so I guess they are stuck with the phone network.

There are also plans for 2G to be switched off by 2033 referenced in the article.

A very costly replacement?!

The UK smart meter rollout is/was the most expensive among countries that went this route of smart meters.

Or move up North (or Scotland) as "our", ekhm, "smart meters", are using a radio technology.