How To Shield Smart Meters From Hackers And Data Theft?

Your smart meter sits on the side of your house right now. It tracks every kilowatt of energy you use. It sends that information back to your utility company every few minutes. And here is what most people do not realize: that same device can become an entry point for hackers who want to spy on your daily life.

The good news? You can take practical steps today to protect your privacy and secure your home. You do not need to be a cybersecurity expert.

This guide gives you simple, step-by-step solutions to shield your smart meter from hackers and stop data theft before it starts.

Key Takeaways

• Smart meters transmit detailed energy usage data every few seconds or minutes. Hackers can use this data to learn when you are home, when you sleep, and what appliances you use. The more granular your meter readings, the more private details someone can extract from them.
• Most security gaps come from weak network setups, not the meter itself. Your home WiFi network, default router passwords, and unsegmented IoT devices create the largest risks. Fixing your home network gives you the biggest security boost.
• Physical shielding with a Faraday cage can block unauthorized wireless signals. You can buy a smart meter cover or make your own with aluminum mesh. This method has pros and cons you need to understand before trying it.
• You can opt out of a smart meter in many states and countries. At least 25 U.S. states have opt-out programs, though fees vary widely. Knowing your rights gives you options if you want to go back to an analog meter.
• Regular firmware updates, encrypted connections, and network segmentation form the strongest defense. A layered approach works best. No single method stops every threat, but combining several practical steps makes your home a hard target.

1. Understand What Makes Smart Meters a Target for Hackers

Smart meters do more than count electricity. They send live usage data back to your utility company. They communicate with other smart devices in your home through protocols like ZigBee and GSM. They store billing records, usage patterns, and event logs in their internal memory. Each of these functions creates a possible attack point.

Researchers have found that smart meter data reveals deeply personal information. With readings taken every minute, data mining tools like Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring (NILM) can detect when you run your washing machine, when you cook dinner, and when you go to bed. Even data collected every 30 minutes can reveal whether your house is empty.

Hackers target smart meters for three main reasons. First, they want to steal energy by falsifying low readings. The FBI reported that smart meter fraud in Puerto Rico cost an electric utility hundreds of millions of dollars. Second, criminals want to know when houses sit empty so they can break in. Third, attackers may try to disrupt the power grid itself. In Ukraine in 2016, hackers used malware to shut down 30 substations and cut power to a large part of Kiev.

The International Energy Agency reports that cyberattacks on the energy sector have grown rapidly since 2018. Utilities, water systems, and gas networks all face more frequent attacks. Your smart meter connects to all of this. Understanding these risks helps you know where to focus your defenses.

2. Check Your Smart Meter for Signs of Tampering

Before you add protection, check whether someone has already tried to access your meter. Most smart meters have built-in tamper detection features. These sensors can alert your utility when someone opens the meter housing or terminal cover.

Look at the physical meter box on the outside of your home. Is the seal intact? Utility companies place tamper-evident seals or locks on every meter. A broken or missing seal means someone opened the box. Check for scratches around the cover screws or any dents that suggest forced entry.

Next, look at your energy bills. Sudden spikes or drops in your usage without a change in your daily routine could point to meter tampering. If your bill jumps 50% higher one month without you running new equipment, ask your utility to investigate. If your usage drops to near zero for no reason, someone may have rerouted your power.

Watch for odd behavior from the smart devices in your home. Lights that flicker without reason, a thermostat that changes its own settings, or smart locks that act up could signal that someone gained access to your meter and moved into your home network. The meter can act as a bridge to all your connected devices.

Also check your utility’s online portal. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if your utility offers it. Look at the login history for your account. See a login from a location you do not recognize? Change your password immediately and call your utility.

3. Secure Your Home WiFi Network First

Most people focus on the meter itself. But your home WiFi network is the real weak point. If a hacker gets into your router, they can intercept data from your smart meter and every other connected device in your home.

Start by changing your router’s default administrator password. Most routers come with a password like “admin” or “password” printed on the bottom. Anyone standing outside your house can guess that. Create a long, unique password with at least 16 characters. Mix uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Update your router’s firmware. Router manufacturers release patches to fix security holes. Log into your router’s admin panel, find the firmware update section, and install the latest version. Set a reminder to check for updates every three months.

Enable WPA3 encryption on your WiFi network. If your router does not support WPA3 yet, use WPA2 with AES encryption. Avoid the older WEP and WPA standards. Hackers can crack those in minutes with free tools. Find your WiFi security settings in the router admin panel and choose the strongest option available.

Turn off WPS (WiFi Protected Setup). This feature lets you connect devices by pressing a button on your router. It sounds convenient, but hackers can brute-force the WPS PIN in hours. Disable WPS in your router settings.

Pros: These steps cost nothing. They protect all your devices, not just your smart meter. You reduce your overall attack surface greatly.

Cons: Router settings can feel confusing if you have never logged into your admin panel. Some older routers do not support WPA3. You may need to buy a new router if yours lacks basic security features.

4. Create a Separate Network for IoT Devices

Your smart meter is an Internet of Things (IoT) device. It should not share the same network as your laptop, phone, or work computer. If a hacker breaks into your smart meter, they should hit a dead end instead of a path to your personal files.

Network segmentation solves this problem. You set up a separate WiFi network just for your smart meter, smart TV, thermostat, and other IoT devices. This isolated network has its own name (SSID) and password. It cannot talk to the devices on your main network.

Most modern routers let you create a guest network. Turn on the guest network option in your router settings. Give it a different name from your main network. Connect your smart meter and all IoT devices to this guest network instead of your main one.

For stronger protection, set up a VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) . A VLAN completely separates traffic from different networks. IoT devices on VLAN 10, for example, cannot reach computers on VLAN 1 without explicit firewall rules. This takes more technical skill, but many newer routers from brands like TP-Link, Asus, and Ubiquiti support VLAN setup through a simple interface.

Also consider using a completely separate physical router for IoT devices. Plug one router into your modem for your personal devices. Plug a second router into the first one for IoT devices only. The double-router method creates a strong barrier between your two networks.

Pros: Network segmentation stops lateral movement by hackers. If a smart meter gets compromised, your banking information stays safe on the main network. This method protects you from attacks on any IoT device, not just the meter.

Cons: Setting up VLANs requires some networking knowledge. Using two routers means you buy extra hardware. Managing multiple WiFi passwords takes a bit more effort day to day.

5. Use a VPN to Encrypt Your Home Internet Traffic

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, creates an encrypted tunnel for all the data leaving your home network. Think of a VPN as a private, invisible pipe that your information travels through. Anyone trying to spy on your traffic sees scrambled, useless data.

Install a VPN directly on your home router. This encrypts every bit of traffic from every device in your house, including your smart meter. Router-level VPN protection works automatically. You do not need to install software on each device.

Choose a VPN service that does not keep logs of your activity. Look for providers that support the WireGuard or OpenVPN protocol for the best balance of speed and security. Download the VPN configuration files from your provider. Upload them to your router’s VPN client section in the admin panel.

If router-level setup feels too hard, install the VPN app on your phone and computer at minimum. This does not protect your smart meter directly. But it does encrypt your personal data every time you check your energy usage through your utility’s app or website.

Pros: A VPN encrypts all your home traffic, not just smart meter data. It hides your online activity from your internet service provider. It also protects you on public WiFi when you use your phone or laptop away from home.

Cons: VPNs slow down your internet speed slightly due to encryption overhead. Good VPN services cost between $3 and $10 per month. Router-level VPN setup can be tricky on older router models.

6. Apply Physical Shielding With a Faraday Cage

A Faraday cage is a container made of conductive material that blocks electromagnetic fields. When you place a smart meter inside a Faraday cage, its wireless signals cannot get in or out. This stops remote hacking through GSM, ZigBee, or WiFi signals.

You can buy a smart meter cover made with Faraday fabric or stainless steel mesh. These covers slip over the meter and block RF signals. Look for covers that specify they use military-grade Faraday technology and fit standard meter sizes.

You can also make your own. Wrap several layers of heavy-duty aluminum foil around the meter. Add a layer of aluminum mesh screen on top. Secure everything with electrical tape. This DIY method costs under $20. Test the result with an RF meter if you have one. The meter should show a sharp drop in signal strength.

Important warning: Blocking your smart meter’s signal may violate your utility’s terms of service. Many utility companies consider signal blocking an illegal form of tampering. They may send a technician to investigate a meter that stops reporting. You could face fines or service disconnection. Check your utility’s policy before using any physical shield.

Some people worry about EMF radiation from smart meters. The World Health Organization and most national health agencies state that smart meter radiation levels fall well within safety limits. A smart meter typically transmits for less than 1% of each day, totaling under one minute of total transmission time daily.

Pros: Physical shielding blocks wireless attacks completely at the meter level. It costs very little for a DIY solution. It also blocks EMF for those concerned about radiation exposure.

Cons: Blocking signals may violate utility rules. The meter cannot send usage data, so you may get estimated bills. A utility company may flag your account and send someone to check the meter. This method prevents remote hacking but not physical tampering.

7. Learn About Smart Meter Opt-Out Rights

You may not have to keep a smart meter at all. Many states and countries let you opt out and keep or restore an analog meter. An analog meter has no wireless transmitter, no remote connection, and no way for hackers to access it digitally.

In the United States, at least 25 states have approved opt-out programs. The fees and rules vary widely. California charges a $75 one-time setup fee plus $10 per month. Maine offers three options: keep an analog meter for a $40 setup fee plus $15.66 per month, install a smart meter with the transmitter turned off for $20 plus $13.98 per month, or move the meter off-site at your own cost.

New Hampshire has an opt-in policy. Utility companies must get your written consent before installing a smart meter. You can keep your analog meter at no extra charge. Pennsylvania currently does not allow opt-outs, but a new bill introduced in April 2025 (SB 600) aims to give residents the legal right to refuse a smart meter.

In the UK, smart meter installation is voluntary. You can say no. Other European countries have different rules based on local energy policies and GDPR privacy protections. Contact your utility company and ask directly: “Do you offer a smart meter opt-out program, and what are the fees?”

If you do opt out, send your request in writing. Keep a copy. Ask for a confirmation letter. If your utility refuses, check with your state’s public utilities commission or your country’s energy regulator. You may have legal rights the utility does not advertise openly.

Pros: An analog meter removes all digital hacking risks completely. No wireless signals, no remote access, no data theft. Your energy data stays local and physical.

Cons: You pay monthly opt-out fees in most areas. Meter readers must visit your property in person. You lose access to real-time energy tracking and time-of-use pricing that could lower your bills. Some utilities refuse opt-outs altogether.

8. Enable Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication on Utility Portals

Your utility company’s online portal holds a lot of sensitive data. It shows your energy usage history, your home address, your billing information, and sometimes your payment details. A weak password on this account gives hackers everything they need to profile your household.

Create a unique password for your utility account that you use nowhere else. Do not recycle the same password from your email, social media, or shopping accounts. Use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password to generate and store strong passwords for all your accounts.

Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) if your utility offers it. 2FA requires a second proof of identity beyond your password. This could be a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy. Even if a hacker steals your password, they cannot log in without that second factor.

Check your account recovery settings. Make sure the recovery email and phone number on file belong to you and are themselves protected with strong passwords and 2FA. Hackers sometimes reset passwords by first taking over the recovery email.

Review the privacy settings in your utility portal. Some utilities let you control how much data they share with third parties. Opt out of data sharing with marketers, research firms, and other external companies. The fewer parties that receive your energy data, the smaller the chance of a leak.

Pros: Strong authentication stops credential-based attacks. A password manager makes it easy to use unique passwords everywhere. 2FA blocks 99% of automated account takeover attempts.

Cons: 2FA adds a small extra step to each login. Not all utility portals offer 2FA yet. Losing access to your 2FA phone or app can temporarily lock you out.

9. Ask Your Utility About Their Security Practices

You have a right to know how your utility company protects your data. Most people never ask. But asking puts pressure on the utility to maintain high security standards, and it gives you information to decide whether you trust them with your energy data.

Call your utility’s customer service line. Ask these specific questions: Does your smart meter network use end-to-end encryption? The answer should include references to AES-128 or AES-256 encryption and TLS for data in transit. How often do you push firmware updates to smart meters? Meters should receive security patches regularly, especially when vulnerabilities become public. Do you monitor the smart meter network for intrusions? The utility should have a security operations team watching for unusual behavior.

Ask about their data retention policy. How long do they store your detailed usage data? Who sees it inside the company? Do they sell or share anonymized data with third parties? Request a copy of their privacy policy in writing.

Ask about compliance with security standards. Smart meter systems should follow IEC 62443 for industrial control security, ISO 15408 Common Criteria, and the NIST IR 7628 guidelines for smart grid cybersecurity. In Europe, the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) will require secure-by-design principles for all digital products sold in the EU by 2027.

If the utility cannot answer these questions or gives vague responses, that tells you something important. A utility that takes security seriously will have clear answers ready for customers who ask.

Pros: Asking informed questions holds your utility accountable. You learn exactly how your data gets protected. You may discover gaps that push you toward an opt-out or additional home protections.

Cons: Frontline customer service staff may not know detailed security answers. You may need to escalate to a supervisor or the IT security team. The process takes time and persistence.

10. Protect the In-Home Display and Consumer Energy Monitors

Many smart meter systems come with an In-Home Display (IHD) , a small screen that shows your real-time energy usage. Some people also install third-party energy monitors like Sense or Emporia Vue that connect to their home WiFi. These devices can leak data just like the meter itself.

Change the default password on your IHD if it has one. Many IHDs use standard factory credentials that anyone can find online. Check the device manual or the manufacturer’s website for instructions on changing passwords.

Keep your IHD and energy monitor firmware updated. These devices connect to your home network and receive over-the-air updates from the manufacturer. Check the companion app monthly for available updates and install them right away.

Disconnect the IHD from the internet if you do not need remote access. Most IHDs work fine as a local display even without a cloud connection. Check the settings to disable WiFi or unplug the Ethernet cable if you only need to see the display at home.

For third-party energy monitors, place them on your guest WiFi or IoT network, not your main network. These devices collect incredibly detailed data about your energy use. A monitor like Sense can identify individual appliances by their electrical signatures. That level of detail falling into the wrong hands creates a serious privacy risk.

Pros: These steps lock down the devices most people forget about. Protecting the IHD closes a backdoor that bypasses the meter itself.

Cons: Some IHDs come with limited security settings. Disabling internet access may also disable useful features like remote monitoring from your phone. Third-party monitors vary widely in their security quality.

11. Monitor Your Energy Bill and Usage Data for Anomalies

Detecting a problem early limits the damage. Make checking your energy usage data a monthly habit. Most utilities let you log into their portal and view daily or hourly consumption graphs.

Look for usage spikes at odd hours. If your energy use jumps at 3 AM when everyone in your house sleeps, something unusual is happening. It could be a faulty appliance, but it could also indicate that someone has tampered with your meter or is siphoning power.

Watch for gaps in your data. If your usage graph shows blank periods where no data was recorded, the meter may have been disconnected or jammed. Smart meters should report continuously. Gaps of more than a few hours deserve a call to your utility.

Compare your in-home display readings against your utility bill. Do the numbers match? A discrepancy between what your IHD shows and what you get billed could mean someone altered the meter data in transit. Contact your utility immediately if you find a mismatch.

Set up usage alerts if your utility portal supports them. Configure notifications for when daily usage exceeds a threshold you set. This gives you an early warning if something changes suddenly.

Pros: Regular monitoring catches problems early. You also learn about your energy habits, which can help you save money. Anomaly checks take only a few minutes each month.

Cons: Not all utility portals offer detailed usage data. Some only update once per day. Sudden legitimate usage changes, like buying an electric vehicle, can look like anomalies.

12. Work With Your Neighbors and Community

Smart meter security is not just an individual problem. Meters in a neighborhood connect through mesh networks. Your meter’s security depends partly on the security of your neighbor’s meter. A compromised device nearby can be used to attack yours.

Talk to your neighbors about smart meter security. Share what you learned from this guide. Recommend that they change their default router passwords and update their firmware. The more people on your street who take basic security steps, the harder it becomes for hackers to find a weak entry point.

Attend community meetings where utility representatives speak. Ask them about security in a public forum. Public pressure pushes utilities to invest more in cybersecurity. When 50 customers ask the same question at a town hall, the utility pays attention.

Join or form a neighborhood energy group. Share tips on reducing energy use and spotting billing errors. A group can collectively negotiate with the utility for better opt-out terms or stronger privacy guarantees. There is strength in numbers.

Report suspicious activity around meter boxes in your neighborhood. If you see someone unfamiliar opening meter boxes without a utility uniform or marked vehicle, call the non-emergency police line and your utility. Take a photo if you can do so safely. Quick reporting stops meter tampering before it spreads.

Pros: Community action creates collective defense. Utilities respond faster to groups than individuals. You protect neighbors who may not understand the risks.

Cons: Organizing takes effort and time. Some neighbors may not care about or understand the threat. Results from public pressure take months to appear.

13. Know Your Legal Rights and Data Protection Laws

Laws protect your energy data in many regions. Knowing these laws helps you push back if your utility mishandles your information or refuses transparency.

In the European Union, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) classifies smart meter energy data as personal data. You have the right to access your data, correct errors, request deletion, and object to processing. Utilities must tell you what they collect, why they collect it, and who they share it with. They need your consent for non-essential data uses.

In the United States, no single federal law covers smart meter data privacy. Instead, state laws and public utility commission rules set the rules. California has some of the strongest protections, limiting what data utilities can share and requiring customer consent. Vermont law requires utilities to give written notice before smart meter installation and lets customers opt out at no charge. Check your state’s specific rules through your public utilities commission website.

In the United Kingdom, the Smart Energy Code governs how energy suppliers handle smart meter data. The Data Communications Company (DCC) runs the secure network that carries the data. You control who accesses your consumption data and how often.

Keep your utility contracts and privacy notices in a file. Note the date you received them. If the utility changes its terms, you have a record of what you originally agreed to. This helps if a dispute arises later about data sharing you did not approve.

Pros: Knowing your rights shifts the power dynamic. You can demand better treatment from your utility. GDPR and similar laws have real enforcement teeth with significant fines.

Cons: Legal language in privacy policies can be hard to parse. State laws vary greatly in the U.S., creating a patchwork of protections. Enforcing your rights often requires filing formal complaints, which takes persistence.

14. Stay Informed About New Threats and Update Your Defenses

Cybersecurity does not stand still. Hackers develop new methods. Utilities release security patches. Regulations change. Your defenses need to change with them.

Set a monthly calendar reminder to check for firmware updates on your router, energy monitor, and any smart home hub you use. These updates fix known vulnerabilities that hackers actively exploit. Delaying an update by even a few weeks can leave you exposed.

Follow cybersecurity news from trustworthy sources. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) publishes alerts about threats to critical infrastructure. The Energy Sector specific page covers smart grid and smart meter vulnerabilities. Subscribe to their mailing list to get updates delivered to your inbox.

Check your utility’s website every six months for updated privacy policies or security notices. Utilities sometimes add new security features like two-factor authentication or expanded data controls without loudly announcing them. You want to be among the first to know.

Review your home network every year. Are all devices still on the right network segment? Have you added new smart devices without putting them on the IoT VLAN? Did you change any passwords that need updating? A yearly security audit keeps small gaps from growing into big problems.

Consider upgrading your router every four to five years. Older routers stop receiving firmware updates. Security standards like WPA3 only work on newer hardware. Spending $80 to $150 on a modern router with strong security features is far cheaper than dealing with identity theft or a home break-in.

15. Understand the Limits: What Smart Meter Security Cannot Do

No security measure gives you perfect protection. Smart meters connect to a vast infrastructure that includes your utility’s servers, cellular networks, and the power grid itself. Many parts of this system sit completely outside your control. Understanding these limits helps you make realistic plans.

Your utility holds the master keys to your meter. They can remotely connect or disconnect your power, update firmware, and access your usage data at any time. You cannot change this. What you can do is verify that your utility follows strong security practices and demand transparency through your state regulator or public utilities commission.

The communication network between meters and utilities uses protocols like GSM cellular or proprietary radio mesh. A sophisticated attacker with a fake cell tower could potentially intercept meter-to-utility communications. You cannot stop this at your end. This is why network-level protections like encryption and intrusion detection by the utility matter so much.

Physical access to the meter box remains a vulnerability. A determined person with tools can open the meter box regardless of tamper seals. Tamper detection alerts the utility after the fact, but it does not prevent the initial access. Placing a motion-activated security camera aimed at your meter box adds an extra layer of deterrence and evidence.

Zero-day vulnerabilities in smart meter firmware exist. These are security flaws that the manufacturer has not discovered or patched yet. You cannot defend against something unknown. The best you can do is ensure that your meter stays on the latest firmware so that known issues get patched quickly once discovered.

16. Create a Personal Smart Meter Security Plan

You now have a lot of information. Turn it into action with a simple, prioritized plan. Start with the steps that give you the most protection for the least effort and cost.

Level 1: Do These Things Today (Free, Takes Under 30 Minutes)

• Change your router admin password to something long and unique.
• Enable WPA3 or WPA2-AES encryption on your WiFi.
• Turn off WPS on your router.
• Enable two-factor authentication on your utility portal account.
• Change your utility portal password to a unique one.

Level 2: Do These Things This Week (Low Cost, Takes 1-2 Hours)

• Create a guest network for all IoT devices.
• Update your router firmware to the latest version.
• Check your energy usage data for anomalies over the past three months.
• Contact your utility to ask about their security and data privacy practices.

Level 3: Do These Things This Month (Moderate Cost, Takes Several Hours)

• Install a VPN on your router for whole-home encryption.
• Research your state or country’s smart meter opt-out policies.
• Set up a VLAN for stronger IoT network isolation.
• Review your utility privacy settings and opt out of third-party data sharing.

Level 4: Consider These Advanced Steps (Higher Cost or Effort)

• Buy a modern security-focused router with automatic updates and built-in IoT segmentation.
• Explore analog meter opt-out if available in your area and if the fees make sense.
• Set up a security camera pointed at your meter box.
• Join or form a neighborhood energy privacy group.

Pick the level that matches your current situation. Start there. Even completing just Level 1 cuts your risk dramatically. You can always add more layers over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a hacker really turn off my power through my smart meter?

Yes. In 2021, Mandiant security researchers demonstrated exactly this during a red team exercise for a North American utility. They breached the corporate IT network, moved into the operational technology network, and issued a command that disconnected a smart meter. A real attacker could disconnect multiple meters at once. This is why utilities must segment their IT and operational networks strongly.

Does aluminum foil actually block smart meter signals?

Yes, aluminum foil can block radio signals. A smart meter communicates using RF waves. Enough layers of conductive material reflect and absorb those waves, creating a basic Faraday cage. However, blocking your meter’s signal may violate your utility’s terms of service. Many utilities treat this as illegal tampering and may fine you. Check your utility’s rules before applying any physical shield.

Are smart meters more dangerous than analog meters for privacy?

Smart meters collect far more data at much higher frequency than analog meters. An analog meter records total usage read once a month. A smart meter records usage every few seconds or minutes, 24 hours a day. This detailed data can reveal your daily routines, appliance usage, and when you are home or away. From a privacy standpoint, smart meters create information that analog meters simply cannot. However, that same data helps you save energy and access time-of-use rates. The privacy risk depends mainly on who can access your data and how they use it.

How do I know if my state allows smart meter opt-outs?

Visit your state’s public utilities commission website. Search for “smart meter opt out” plus your state name. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) also maintains a list of state opt-out policies online. Call your utility directly and ask. If you do not get a clear answer, file a formal inquiry with your state’s consumer advocate office or utilities commission.

Do I need a Faraday cage if I already have a VPN and strong network segmentation?

Probably not for security purposes alone. A VPN on your router and strong network segmentation give you excellent protection against remote hacking attempts. The Faraday cage mainly helps if you want to block wireless signals for EMF concerns or if you cannot secure your home network through software methods. Remember that physical shielding brings legal risks that software protections do not.

How often should I check my smart meter data for anomalies?

Check your energy usage at least once a month when you receive your bill. Compare the billed usage to what your In-Home Display or online portal shows. If your utility provides daily or hourly data, glance at the weekly graph once a week. Look for unexplained spikes, drops, or gaps. Set up automated alerts through your utility portal if that feature exists. A five-minute check each week can catch problems before they cause serious damage.

What should I do if I find evidence that my smart meter was hacked?

Call your utility immediately. Ask them to send a technician to inspect the meter physically. Change all your passwords: router admin, WiFi, utility portal, and any smart home accounts. File a report with your local police if you see signs of physical tampering like a broken seal or forced cover. Document everything with photos and notes. Contact your utility’s fraud department if your billing shows suspicious charges.