How to read your gas or electricity meter

This advice applies to England

Your supplier needs regular readings from your gas or electricity meter to work out your bills. If you don't transport them readings, they'll estimate your usage. This means your pecker might be too loftier or low.

Telephone call your supplier to give them the readings - or bank check if yous can submit one on their website or app.

If you can't get to your meter, your energy supplier might exist able to give you lot extra help to read or move your meter. Y'all can check if you can get actress aid from your free energy supplier.

If you have a smart meter

Smart meters are different to standard meters - they normally send readings to your supplier automatically.

You'll normally also get a portable device called an 'in-dwelling house display' - this shows how much yous're spending on your energy.

Observe out how to:

  • read a smart gas meter
  • read a smart electricity meter

Electricity meters

Unmarried rate digital meter

Single rate digital electricity meter

This meter reading is 75085. The red number should be ignored.

A digital meter has an electronic or digital display. It volition show 5 numbers in black or white, and might be followed by i or more than ruby-red numbers.

To read the meter:

  1. Write downwardly the first v numbers shown from left to right.
  2. Ignore any other numbers.

Two rate digital meter

Two rate digital electricity meter

This meter has ii readings - 25404 and 54250. You'll need to give both readings to your supplier.

If you get cheaper electricity at certain times, you lot might have a two rate (or 'dual-rate') meter. This ways information technology will have two rows of numbers.

The meridian row (labelled 'low' or 'night') shows how many units of cheaper electricity you've used.

The lesser row (labelled 'normal' or 'twenty-four hour period') shows how many units of standard-price electricity you've used.

To read the meter:

  1. Read both the meridian and bottom rows.
  2. Write down the numbers shown left to right.
  3. Ignore whatsoever numbers shown in red.

Ii rate single brandish meter

Two rate single display electricity meter

This meter has 2 readings - 75085 and 46806. You lot'll need to give both readings to your supplier.

Some ii rate (or 'dual charge per unit') meters only have i digital display. They volition either flash up the dissimilar charge per unit readings in a cycle or have a button that you demand to press to brand the brandish bike through the readings for the different rates.

To read the meter write downwards the numbers shown left to right, for each reading.

To read this meter:

  1. Write down the numbers shown left to right.
  2. Make sure you get both readings.

Dial meter

Electricity dial meter with 5 clock dials in a row and arrows on the screens showing the direction each dial turns.

This meter reading is1 5 64 9

An electricity dial meter has v or more dials. They each turn to point to a number between 0 and 9.

Each dial on your meter will turn in the opposite management to the ones next to information technology. Some dial meters get-go with a clockwise dial and some start with an anticlockwise dial - check the management of your dials before you lot read them.

To read the meter:

  1. Read the commencement 5 dials from left to right - ignore whatever reddish dials or dials marked 1/10.
  2. If the pointer is between ii numbers, write downwards the lower number - if it'south between 9 and 0, write down ix.
  3. If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and underline information technology.

If you lot've underlined a number, check the next dial to the correct. If the pointer on that dial is between ix and 0, reduce the number you've underlined past i. For example, if you originally wrote down 5, modify information technology to 4.

Gas meters

Digital metric meter

Digital metric gas meter

This meter reading is 00544.

A digital metric meter will take an electronic or digital display, showing 5 numbers then a decimal point, followed by some more than numbers.

To read the meter:

  1. Write downwardly the first five numbers shown from left to right.
  2. Ignore the numbers after the decimal point, sometimes shown in red.

Digital majestic meter

Digital imperial gas meter

This meter reading is 1860.

A digital purple meter has an electronic or digital display, showing iv black or white numbers, followed past 2 numbers shown in red.

To read the meter:

  1. Write downward the showtime 4 numbers from left to right.
  2. Ignore the residuum of the numbers, shown in red.

Dial meter

Gas dial meter with 4 clock dials in a row and arrows on the screens showing the direction each dial turns.

This meter reading is 7241.

A gas punch meter has 4 or more dials. Each ane turns to point to a number betwixt 0 and ix.

Each dial on your meter volition turn in the opposite direction to the ones side by side to it. Some dial meters start with a clockwise punch and some start with an anticlockwise dial - check the management of your dials before yous read them.

To read the meter:

  1. Read the first 4 dials from left to right - ignore the big dials or red dials.
  2. If the arrow is between two numbers, write down the lower number - if it's betwixt 9 and 0, write downwardly 9.
  3. If the pointer is direct over a number, write down that number.

If you can't discover your meter on this folio

It might exist a smart meter. Check how to:

  • read a smart gas meter
  • read a smart electricity meter