Whether your home uses gas, electricity or both, it’s important to read your energy meters regularly and let your energy company know your readings.
If your energy supplier does not receive meter readings from you they will come up with an average of what they think your usage is and charge you accordingly, which means you could end up paying more for your energy than you should be.
If you receive paper bills then you will also be able to fill out a meter reading when you send your bill off. If you manage your account online you will be able to fill in the details needed over the internet.
Below is a brief look at the different types of energy meters available:
Digital Meter
A digital meter will normally show a row of five numbers and you should read the numbers from left to right. The last digit will show a fraction and you should always choose the lower figure when noting down the number. If your meter has an LCD display then there will be no fraction to read.
Dial Meter
This type of meter consists of a row of dials. The numbers around the dials range from 0 to 9. Read the dial from left to right and note down the number that the hand of each dial is pointing to. If the hand is not pointing directly to a number then choose the lowest number that the hand is near to.
Economy 7
When you choose an Economy 7 tariff you pay a lower price for energy used at night but you will also need a special meter installed which gives day and night readings for your energy usage. Normally, your daytime reading will be marked ‘high’ and your night time reading will be marked ‘low’.
You can read the numbers in the same way you would on other meters, but if you have an LCD display you’ll need to press a button to see the two different readings.
Gas Meters
Gas meters differ from electricity meters because the gas you use is measured in cubic feet or cubic meters, rather than kilowatt hours. You should find your meter clearly marked to tell you how your gas is being measured.
To take a reading, read the numbers from left to right and include any zeros even if they are at the start of the row of numbers.
Submitting your meter reading
Most energy companies will allow you to submit a meter reading online, through the post or by phone. It’s very important to read your meter regularly so you don’t end up paying less than you should be as your company will require you to pay the extra which can land you with a hefty and unexpected bill down the line.
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