How to read your energy meter

Your supplier uses your meter reading to calculate your energy bill.

If you don’t send a reading, they’ll estimate how much gas and electricity you’re using.

That means you could end up paying too much or too little and that your bill doesn’t accurately reflect your usage.

Sending a regular reading puts you in control and means you don’t get any nasty surprises when you look at your bill.

That can make a big difference if you’re:

• trying to keep your bills down
• aiming to stick to a budget
• struggling with payments and want to avoid falling into debt

You can submit your meter reading via your energy supplier’s website or app, or call them directly to give them the figure over the phone.

Usually, no.

Smart meters send readings to your supplier automatically.

When you get a smart meter, you’ll also be given a device, called an in-home display (IHD), which tells you:

• how much energy you’re using
• what it’s costing you in pounds and pence

But occasionally, you might still need to check the smart meter itself, not just your IHD.

For example:

• you might be on an export tariff (selling energy back to the grid)
• your smart meter isn’t sending data properly

If your meter is in a hard-to-reach place or you're unable to read it, then get in touch with your supplier.

You can have it moved to a more convenient location, so you’re able to access and read it more easily.

Your supplier could also arrange regular readings for you and add you to the Priority Services Register, so you get extra support if you need it.

Single rate digital meter

A single rate digital meter shows five numbers (black or white), followed by red numbers.

To read it:

• write down the first five numbers from left to right
• ignore any red numbers or numbers after the decimal

Two rate digital meter

A two rate digital meter shows two rows of numbers for different times of day.

The top row indicates the cheaper night rate (labelled ‘low’ or ‘night’).

The bottom row indicates the standard day rate (labelled ‘normal’ or ‘day’).

To read it: 

• write down both rows, from left to right
• ignore any red numbers

Two rate single display meter

A two rate single display meter has one screen that switches between rates (automatically or by pressing a button).

Look for labels - ‘N’ stands for normal (day), not night.

To read it:

• record both sets of numbers when they appear
• ignore any extra numbers after the rates

Dial electricity meter

A dial electricity meter has at least five small dials that look like clocks.

Each one turns in the opposite direction to the one next to it.

To read it:

•    read the first five dials from left to right
•    ignore red dials or ones marked 1/10
•    if the pointer is between two numbers, use the lower number
•    if it’s exactly on a number, underline it
•    then check the next dial - if it’s near 9, reduce your underlined number by one

Digital metric meter

A digital metric meter shows five numbers, then a decimal point and more digits.

To read it:

• write down the first five numbers from left to right
• ignore any numbers after the decimal (sometimes shown in red)

Digital imperial meter

A digital imperial meter shows four black or white numbers, followed by two red ones.

To read it:

• write down the first four numbers from left to right
• ignore the red numbers

Dial gas meter

A dial gas meter has at least four dials pointing to numbers between 0 and 9.

The dials alternate between clockwise and anticlockwise.

To read it:

•    read the first four dials from left to right
•    ignore any red or large dials
•    if the pointer is between two numbers, use the lower number

Energy meters come in many shapes and sizes.

So if you’re not sure what type of meter you have, take a photo and ask your supplier.