Series of deliberative focus groups organised by the University of Essex and the Centre for Sustainable Energy. As part of the research, each group of participants was introduced to smart meters and the different types of services they can be associated with, and was subsequently invited to reflect on the practicality of adopting smart-meter enabled services . Overall, consumers found both threats and opportunities inherent in smart-metering initiatives. Threats included: loss of autonomy/control, privacy concerns, and mistrust towards profit orientated energy suppliers and concerns about how it would affect their own and other peoples’ daily lives. Opportunities included avoiding the hassles of meter readings, more accurate billings, the chance to reduce their energy bills, and the enablement of future smart-meter services, including text alerts and smarter controls that would allow consumer to switch off ‘unused’ appliances remotely. Of the three services proposed, focus group participants indicated a greater preference for automation. Gamification and community rewards encountered resistance due to a lack of consumer appeal. Both services were not seen as rewarding with participants struggling to see how each service would personally benefit them, while also questioning the practicalities surrounding both concepts.