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 send them readings, they'll estimate your usage. This means your bill might exist as well loftier or low.

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

If you can't get to your meter, your energy supplier might be able to give you extra aid to read or move your meter. You tin can cheque if y'all can get extra help from your energy supplier.

If you have a smart meter

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

Yous'll usually too go a portable device chosen an 'in-home display' - this shows how much you'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 exist ignored.

A digital meter has an electronic or digital display. Information technology will bear witness 5 numbers in blackness or white, and might be followed past 1 or more than red numbers.

To read the meter:

  1. Write down the kickoff 5 numbers shown from left to right.
  2. Ignore any other numbers.

2 charge per unit digital meter

Two rate digital electricity meter

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

If you become cheaper electricity at certain times, you might have a 2 rate (or 'dual-rate') meter. This means it volition have 2 rows of numbers.

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

The lesser row (labelled 'normal' or 'day') shows how many units of standard-cost electricity you've used.

To read the meter:

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

Two rate single display meter

Two rate single display electricity meter

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

Some ii rate (or 'dual charge per unit') meters only have 1 digital display. They will either wink upwardly the different charge per unit readings in a wheel or accept a push that you demand to press to make the display cycle through the readings for the different rates.

To read the meter write down 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 y'all 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 five six4 nine

An electricity dial meter has 5 or more than dials. They each turn to point to a number between 0 and ix.

Each dial on your meter will turn in the opposite management to the ones next to it. Some dial meters start with a clockwise dial and some offset with an anticlockwise dial - cheque the direction of your dials before you read them.

To read the meter:

  1. Read the outset 5 dials from left to right - ignore any carmine dials or dials marked i/10.
  2. If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number - if it'due south between 9 and 0, write downward 9.
  3. If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it.

If you've underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you've underlined past ane. For example, if you originally wrote down 5, change information technology to 4.

Gas meters

Digital metric meter

Digital metric gas meter

This meter reading is 00544.

A digital metric meter volition have an electronic or digital brandish, showing 5 numbers then a decimal point, followed by some more numbers.

To read the meter:

  1. Write down the first 5 numbers shown from left to right.
  2. Ignore the numbers after the decimal point, sometimes shown in red.

Digital imperial meter

Digital imperial gas meter

This meter reading is 1860.

A digital purple meter has an electronic or digital brandish, showing 4 black or white numbers, followed by ii numbers shown in red.

To read the meter:

  1. Write down the first iv numbers from left to right.
  2. Ignore the rest 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 dial meter has four or more dials. Each 1 turns to point to a number between 0 and 9.

Each dial on your meter will turn in the opposite direction to the ones next to it. Some punch meters start with a clockwise dial and some start with an anticlockwise dial - bank check the direction of your dials before you read them.

To read the meter:

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

If you tin can't detect your meter on this folio

It might be a smart meter. Check how to:

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