How to take a meter reading: gas, electric, and smart meters

Accurate meter readings are the foundation of correct energy billing, ensuring you only pay for the energy you actually use. Whether you have a traditional dial meter, a digital display, or a modern smart meter, understanding how to read it empowers you to track your energy consumption and avoid unexpected charges. This guide will walk you through the process for all common meter types in the UK, including specific instructions for popular smart meter models.

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Why accurate meter readings matter

Regularly submitting accurate meter readings is crucial for managing your energy costs and understanding your household's consumption patterns. It puts you in control, replacing guesswork with facts.

Avoiding estimated bills

Without regular readings, your energy supplier will estimate your usage. These estimates might be too high or too low, leading to inaccurate bills. If estimated bills are too low, you could build up a debt that results in a larger bill later. Conversely, if they're too high, you might be paying for energy you haven't used. Providing actual readings ensures your bills reflect your true consumption, preventing these discrepancies.

Understanding your energy usage

Submitting meter readings regularly gives you a clear picture of how much energy your household consumes. This transparency allows you to identify trends, pinpoint energy-intensive appliances, and make informed decisions about reducing your usage. Understanding your consumption is the first step towards controlling your energy costs.

Reading your electricity meter

Electricity meters come in various forms, from older dial models to modern digital and smart versions.

Traditional dial meters

Traditional dial electricity meters typically have five or more small clock-like dials that turn to point to a number between 0 and 9. Each dial often turns in the opposite direction to its neighbour.

To read a dial meter:

1. Read the first five dials from left to right, ignoring any red dials or those marked '1/10'.
2. If the pointer is between two numbers, always write down the lower number. For example, if it's between 9 and 0, write down 9.
3. If the pointer is directly over a number, write that number down. If any underlined number is followed by a 9 or 8 on the next dial, you may need to take one away from the underlined number.

Digital electricity meters

Digital electricity meters feature an electronic display showing numbers. They are generally easier to read than dial meters.

To read a single-rate digital meter:

1. Write down the first five numbers shown from left to right.
2. Ignore any numbers in red, or those after a decimal point.

For two-rate (Economy 7) digital meters, you will see two rows of numbers, or the display will cycle between two readings. These meters measure peak and off-peak electricity usage. You'll need to record both readings.

Smart electricity meters

Smart meters are designed to send readings to your energy supplier automatically, eliminating the need for manual submissions. However, if your smart meter is offline or your supplier requests a reading, you may need to take one yourself.

To read a smart electricity meter:

1. Look for a screen displaying numbers followed by "kWh".
2. Press buttons to scroll through the display if necessary, as different models vary.
3. Read the numbers from left to right, ignoring any zeros at the beginning or numbers after a decimal point. If you have two rates, you might need to scroll to find the second reading.

Reading your gas meter

Gas meters also come in traditional dial and digital formats, as well as smart versions. Gas usage is typically measured in cubic metres (m³) or cubic feet (ft³), which is then converted to kilowatt-hours (kWh) for billing.

Traditional dial gas meters

Similar to electricity dial meters, gas dial meters have a series of clock-like dials.

To read a dial gas meter:

1. Read the first four dials from left to right, ignoring any large dials or red dials.
2. If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number. If it's between 9 and 0, write down 9.
3. If the pointer is directly on a number, write it down.

Digital gas meters

Digital gas meters have a clear numerical display.

To read a digital gas meter:

1. Read the numbers from left to right.
2. Ignore any numbers shown in red, in a red box, or after a decimal point.
3. If your meter displays 'M³' or 'cubic metres', you'll typically read five main numbers. If it's in 'cubic feet' or 'ft³', you'll usually read four numbers.

Smart gas meters

Like smart electricity meters, smart gas meters usually send readings automatically to your supplier. If you need to take a manual reading, the process is similar to smart electricity meters: press buttons to cycle through the display until you find the main reading, then note the numbers from left to right.

Specific smart meter instructions

Smart meters vary by manufacturer, and the sequence of button presses to find your reading can differ. Here are instructions for some common models:

Kaifa smart meters

1. Press the Up button to enter the menu.
2. With the arrow pointing to 'General Display', press and hold Up.
3. Press Down to navigate to 'Tariff Matrix'; with the arrow at 'Tariff Matrix', press and hold Up.
4. With the arrow at 'TOU Register', press and hold Up. You will see 'T01' (total for Rate 1) and 'T02' (total for Rate 2).

Landis smart meters

Hold button B to open the Tariff Display List. The first screen will show the first rate. Press button A to cycle through to the next rate.

Honeywell smart meters

1. Press the top button to wake the display and open the 'General' menu.
2. Press the bottom button to cycle through: General → Boost → Registers. Press the top button to select 'Registers'.
3. Press the bottom button to cycle through: Cumulative → Rates in Use → Rates 1-48. Press the top button to select 'Rates 1-48'.
4. Press the bottom button to cycle through 'Imp R1', 'Imp R2', and so on. For a single-rate tariff, read 'Imp R1'. For a two-rate tariff, read both 'Imp R1' and 'Imp R2'.

Edmi smart meters

1. Hold the OK button until 'Billing' appears in the Main Menu. Hold OK again to enter 'Billing'.
2. Use the arrows to scroll to 'Advanced' (usually two pushes of the '>' button). Hold OK to enter; 'TOUmtrx' will appear.
3. Hold OK to enter the TOU matrix sub-menu; 'RATE1' will appear.
4. Use the arrows to view 'Rate 1' and 'Rate 2'.

Submitting your meter reading

Once you have your accurate meter readings, the next step is to submit them to your energy supplier.

General submission methods

Most energy suppliers offer several ways to submit your meter readings:

• Online account: Logging into your supplier's website is a common method.
• Mobile app: Many suppliers have dedicated apps that allow you to submit readings. Some even allow you to scan your meter with your phone camera.
• Phone: You can usually submit readings via an automated phone service or by speaking to customer services.
• Email or text: Some suppliers may also accept readings via email or text message.

Submitting a meter reading on the 1st of the month is ideal, as this ensures the most accurate bill calculation for the previous month's usage.

Submitting via the Fuse Energy app

Fuse Energy empowers customers with an intuitive app designed for easy meter reading submission and usage tracking. If you're a Fuse Energy customer, you can submit your readings directly through the app, giving you transparency and control over your energy usage and billing. This digital-first approach helps you stay on top of your energy consumption with minimal effort.

Troubleshooting common meter reading issues

Sometimes, you might encounter difficulties when trying to read your meter. Here's how to address some common problems.

What if you can't find your meter?

Energy meters are typically located where the energy supply enters your property. Common places include:

• Inside your home: Under the stairs, in a hallway cupboard, kitchen, or utility room.
• Outside your home: In a white or brown meter box on an external wall or set into the ground near your front door or driveway.
• In flats or apartments: Meters might be in a communal cupboard, basement, or meter room, often on the ground floor. Each meter should be labelled with the corresponding flat number.

If you still can't find it, check your tenancy agreement, ask your landlord or building manager, or contact your energy supplier.

What if your meter is faulty?

Signs of a faulty meter can include a blank display, error messages, unusually fast or slow readings, or your smart meter not sending readings.

If you suspect your meter is faulty:

1. Gather evidence: Take photos of the meter display and note down any readings, dates, and times.
2. Contact your supplier: Your energy supplier is responsible for investigating faulty meters. They may conduct remote diagnostics or arrange an engineer visit.
3. Accuracy test: You can request a formal meter accuracy test. If the meter is found to be faulty, it will usually be repaired or replaced free of charge. If it's accurate, you might be charged for the test.

Dealing with unusually high or low readings

If your meter reading seems unusually high or low compared to your typical usage, consider the following:

• Check for misreading: Double-check your reading, especially if you have a dial meter, as these can be misread.
• Seasonal changes: Energy usage naturally increases in colder months due to heating.
• New appliances: Recently installed appliances might be using more energy than you expect.
• Faulty appliances: A malfunctioning appliance could be consuming excessive electricity.
• Contact your supplier: If you've checked these factors and still believe the reading is incorrect, contact your energy supplier. They can investigate potential issues or advise on next steps.

Regularly submitting accurate meter readings is a simple yet effective way to manage your energy consumption and ensure you're billed fairly. By understanding your meter and how to read it, you gain greater control over your household's energy use.