There are a few things going on here.
You don't have to have a smart meter if you don't want one BUT...
The energy companies *have* to install Smart Meters in all homes or they will be fined by the government. This is a UK government initiative and despite the cynicism further up this page, the initiative is about trying to reduce energy usage. The rationale is that if you use a smart meter you can see how much power you are using and how much it is costing you, thus you will be encouraged to use energy better.
So, the energy companies have to encourage you to have a smart meter fitted but you don't have to use the console and your supplier can set it up to work like a dumb meter. To me there seems little advantage in this. In order to get you on board the energy companies are using the carrot and stick approach. If you have an ordinary meter you may be charged a much higher tariff, for example. If you are an energy company this makes a lot of sense. It's a lot more cost effective to have data from a smart meter as you can much better predict energy usage.
The stick is the endless e-mails, calls, texts, letters telling you how wonderful smart meters are and why you should get one.
I'm with Bulb and had one fitted. It took 6 months to commission because the fitting is done by a service company, not by your supplier. That said it works well. I can see just how much energy is being used and can walk around the house telling my children just how much they need to pay me as they have left the lights on in their bedroom and the TV on AGAIN.