How to read your gas and electricity meters

Usually your gas and electricity meter has the same style of display. It’s just the numbers that are different.

Remember that gas is measured in cubic feet or metres and electricity is measured in kWh.

Standard

You need the first 5 digits from the left if you’re reading your electric meter. You need the first 4 or 5 numbers if you’re reading your gas meter. Ignore any red numbers.

Digital

If you have a digital display, for both gas and electricity you usually use the first five digits from the left for your reading. Ignore the figures after the decimal point.

These are slightly more confusing. When you come to take your meter reading, you should notice several dials. Each has a hand pointing to a number, or just past it.

You read the dials themselves from left to right. Dials without numbers or hands should be disregarded.

And an added level of confusion – sometimes the hand moves either clockwise or anti-clockwise. This is usually indicated by an arrow, so look out for this when you’re taking your reading.

If the hand is in between two numbers, record the number before the hand. If the next dial along is on 9, reduce the previous number by one.

For example, if one dial looks like it’s dead on 7, but the next dial reads 9, you would write the first number down as 6.

Economy 7

These include two different readings.

The daytime or on-peak reading should either be the top one, marked as ‘normal’, or ‘day’ or the default display.

The night-time or off-peak reading is the bottom one, marked ‘low’, or ‘night’.

Usually on digital and prepayment meters you can access each reading by pressing a button on the meter. Sometimes they’re marked Rate 1 and Rate 2.

Pre-payment meters

You don’t usually need to take a reading for a prepayment meter, as you usually pay for energy as you go along. But it can still be useful to keep track.

You should be able to scroll through different screens on your prepayment meter. One usually displays how much credit you have left, and the other shows you your usage.

I’m having problems reading my meter, what can I do?

If you’re still having problems, your utility supplier should be able to give you specific instructions over the phone.

What if your meter isn’t accessible – for example, if it’s awkward to reach, or you have sight problems? Your gas and electricity provider should be able to arrange for someone to come out and read it for you on a regular basis.

How do I read a smart meter?

A smart meter allows you to see the actual cost of the gas or electricity you use. It also provides information for each appliance, so you can see exactly how much your TV addiction is setting you back.

The data can be accessed remotely via a digital display screen. Once you’ve started to give your utility supplier with regular meter readings, you can start to understand exactly how much energy you use.

If you’re looking to install a smart meter, the good news is that they’re currently being rolled out by most energy providers.

The government had a target to roll these out in all homes in Great Britain. At the last quarterly update in 2021, 35% of households in the UK had a smart or advanced meter.

This delay could be due to the pandemic.

If you’re renting, you might have to contact your landlord if you want a smart meter. But if you own your home, you could speak to your supplier about getting one fitted.

Now is a great time to switch energy tariffs near you – prices are on the rise.

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