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 yous don't send them readings, they'll estimate your usage. This means your bill might be too loftier or low.

Call your supplier to give them the readings - or bank check if you can submit 1 on their website or app.

If yous can't get to your meter, your energy supplier might be able to give you lot extra assist to read or move your meter. You lot can cheque if you can get extra help from your energy supplier.

If y'all have a smart meter

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

You'll ordinarily also get a portable device called an 'in-domicile display' - this shows how much you're spending on your free energy.

Find out how to:

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

Electricity meters

Single rate digital meter

Single rate digital electricity meter

This meter reading is 75085. The blood-red number should be ignored.

A digital meter has an electronic or digital display. It will show 5 numbers in black or white, and might exist followed by 1 or more blood-red numbers.

To read the meter:

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

Ii rate digital meter

Two rate digital electricity meter

This meter has 2 readings - 25404 and 54250. Y'all'll need to give both readings to your supplier.

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

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

The bottom row (labelled 'normal' or 'mean solar day') shows how many units of standard-price electricity y'all've used.

To read the meter:

  1. Read both the meridian and bottom rows.
  2. Write downward the numbers shown left to right.
  3. Ignore any numbers shown in blood-red.

Two charge per unit single display meter

Two rate single display electricity meter

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

Some ii rate (or 'dual rate') meters just have 1 digital brandish. They will either flash up the different rate readings in a cycle or have a button that you lot need to printing to make the display bike through the readings for the dissimilar rates.

To read the meter write down the numbers shown left to right, for each reading.

To read this meter:

  1. Write downward the numbers shown left to right.
  2. Make sure you go 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 isi 5 64 ix

An electricity dial meter has 5 or more dials. They each turn to point to a number between 0 and 9.

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

To read the meter:

  1. Read the first 5 dials from left to correct - ignore any reddish dials or dials marked 1/ten.
  2. If the arrow is between two numbers, write downward the lower number - if information technology's between 9 and 0, write down nine.
  3. If the pointer is directly over a number, write downwardly that number and underline it.

If y'all've underlined a number, bank check the adjacent punch to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you've underlined by 1. For case, if yous originally wrote down v, change information technology to 4.

Gas meters

Digital metric meter

Digital metric gas meter

This meter reading is 00544.

A digital metric meter will have an electronic or digital brandish, showing 5 numbers and so a decimal point, followed by some more than numbers.

To read the meter:

  1. Write downward the kickoff v numbers shown from left to right.
  2. Ignore the numbers afterward the decimal signal, sometimes shown in carmine.

Digital imperial meter

Digital imperial gas meter

This meter reading is 1860.

A digital imperial meter has an electronic or digital brandish, showing four black or white numbers, followed by ii numbers shown in crimson.

To read the meter:

  1. Write down the showtime 4 numbers from left to right.
  2. Ignore the rest of the numbers, shown in cherry.

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 4 or more dials. Each one turns to indicate to a number betwixt 0 and 9.

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

To read the meter:

  1. Read the first four dials from left to right - ignore the large dials or reddish dials.
  2. If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number - if information technology's between 9 and 0, write down 9.
  3. If the pointer is directly over a number, write downwards that number.

If y'all tin can't find your meter on this page

Information technology might exist a smart meter. Check how to:

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