How to Read Your Electric or Gas Meter

Some suppliers require frequent meter readings to ensure accurate billing. If you fail to submit your meter readings, your supplier will bill you based on estimated usage. If you are being billed on estimated usage, you could be paying for more than you are actually using or get a big back-bill for energy you have not yet paid for.

Who Is Responsible For Reading My Meters?

As the customer, you are responsible for taking and submitting meter readings to your supplier. If you fail to do so, you could be charged for estimated readings, which could result in you paying for more energy than you have used. If you have a smart meter, readings will automatically be sent to your supplier.

How Often Should I Provide Meter Readings?

You should provide meter readings to your supplier at least once a month to ensure accurate billing.

What Are The Different Types Of Electricity Meters?

Write down the first five numbers from left to right, and ignore any numbers after.

In this example, the meter reading would be 75085



Two Rate Digital Meters

The cheaper rate reading will be shown on the top bar if you get cheaper electric rates at certain times.

The second bar will show the 'normal' or 'day' rates.

You read these meters like a single-rate digital meter: Write down the first five numbers from left to right and ignore any numbers after.

In this example, the cheaper rate meter reading would be 25404.

The 'day/regular' rate reading would be 54250.



Two Rate Single Display Meters

Some dual rate meters have a single display meter. They either flash up the different readings in a cycle or have a button you have to press to make the display show the different readings for each cycle. Most meters have a label on them that tells you if the reading is for 'low / night' rates or 'high /standard' rates. If there is a 'N' label, it will stand for normal and not night. 

To read this type of meter, read the numbers from left to right and take down both meter readings.

If you are not sure which one is for day and which is for night, then check it before night time and again in the morning. The one that went up overnight will be your night meter.

The meter reading for this one would be 75085 and 46806.



Dial Meters

Electricity Dial Meters have five dials, each numbered 0 - 9. You might have a sixth dial that is in red or with a 1/10 next to it; you can ignore this dial.

Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one next to it. You should check which way each dial turns before reading your meter.

Read the number of the first five dials from left to right. If a pointer is between 2 numbers, choose the lower number. If the pointer lands between 9 and 0, then select 9. Look at the following number if the pointer lands directly on a number. If the following number lands between 9 and 0, reduce the number you read by 1. The meter reading for the dial meter above would be 15649.



What Are The Different Types Of Gas Meters?

Read the numbers from left to right, and ignore any numbers in red or after the decimal point.

This meter reading would be 00544.



Digital Imperial Meters

Read the numbers from left to right, ignoring any numbers in red.

The meter reading for this would be 1860.



Dial Meters

Gas dial meters have four or more dials. Each dial points towards a number between 0 - 9. 

Each dial moves in the opposite direction to the one next to it. (e.g. anticlockwise, clockwise, anticlockwise, clockwise) You need to check the direction of the dials before taking your meter reading.
Firstly, read the dials from left to right. Ignore any dials that are large or red. If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number. If the pointer is between 9 and 0, write down 0. 

If the pointer directly points to a number, then write down that number.

The meter reading for this one would be 7241.



How can Purely Energy help?

If you have any queries about meter readings or would like help lowering your energy costs, contact us at 0161 521 3400 or email us at Info@purelyenergy.co.uk. Alternatively, get a quick quote.

This Article was written by Megan Glover of Purely Energy. If there are any suggestions or questions - Please get in touch with us.