Where to find your meters 👀
If you live in a house, your meters are usually located in the cellar or fixed to an outside wall of the house in a meter box. Generally, your house will have both an electricity meter and a gas meter, so it's important to send photos of both of these to us when required.
If you live in a flat, you might have to ask your landlord or letting agent where your meters are located. Sometimes they are in a separate area of the building.
Your meters
Meters come in all shapes and sizes and show numbers in different ways. We don't need any numbers in red or after a decimal place.
Scroll down to find your meter type.
Remember, you can submit your readings in seconds - simply take a clear image and email them to [email protected].
Electricity meters
Find your meter type below to find out how to read your electricity meter.
Single rate meters
This meter reading is 07220. We read the numbers from left to right, and we don't need any numbers in red or after a decimal place.
Two rate meters (sometimes called Economy 7)
We need both meter readings.
- 'Low' is your night reading (56315 in the example above)
- 'Normal' is your day reading (27347 in the example above)
For both readings, write down the numbers shown from left to right. We don't need any numbers in red or after a decimal place.
Two rate, single display meters
Some two rate meters only have one digital display. The display will either show the different rate readings one after the other, or you'll need to press a button to make the display 'cycle' through the readings.
If you see a 'T' reading, we don't need this. This stands for 'total' and should be the total of the two readings.
Dial meters
This meter reading is 04515.
The dials go around in an alternating clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. So, if your first dial is clockwise, the next will be anti-clockwise, and so on. Each dial may have an arrow indicating which way it rotates.
We read these meters from left to right and don't need the number from the dial in red.
When the pointer is between two numbers, record the lower number. If it’s between the 9 and 0, record 9.
If the pointer is directly on a number, check the next dial to the right. If that dial reads 8 or 9, then lower the reading for the dial on its left by one.
If there are more spaces in the meter reading form than you have dials, just enter zeros at the beginning. For example, if you have 4 dials but the form asks for 6 numbers, enter two zeros and then your reading.
Gas meters
Find your meter type below to find out how to read your gas meter.
Digital metric meters
This meter reading is 00254. Write down the numbers shown from left to right, leaving out the numbers after the decimal place.
Imperial meters
This meter reading is 0722. Write down the numbers shown from left to right, leaving out the numbers in red.
Dial meters
This meter reading is 1461.
The dials go around in an alternating clockwise and anti-clockwise direction. So, if your first dial is clockwise, the next will be anti-clockwise, and so on. Each dial may have an arrow indicating which way it rotates.
We read these meters from left to right. The dial marked '1/10' is the number after the decimal, so we don’t need that.
When the pointer is between two numbers, record the lower number. If it’s between the 9 and 0, record 9.
If the pointer is directly on a number, check the next dial to the right. If that dial reads 8 or 9, then lower the reading for the dial on its left by one.
If there are more spaces in the meter reading form than you have dials, just enter zeros at the beginning. For example, if you have 4 dials but the form asks for 6 numbers, enter two zeros and then your reading.
Smart meters
Find your meter type below to see how to read your smart meter.
For smart electricity meters, your reading will be for a number followed by 'kWh'. For smart gas meters, your reading will be a number followed by 'm3'.
Leave out any numbers after the decimal place.
If your smart meter has a keypad
Press 9 on the keypad to see your reading.
For gas meters, you'll see 'Volume' and a reading followed by 'm3'.
For electricity meters, you'll see 'IMP kWh’ and a reading followed by 'kWh'.
If you have a 2 rate meter (sometimes called Economy 7), to see your day and night readings:
1. Press 6 on the keypad until you see 'IMP R01' followed by 8 digits.
2. Press 6 again until you see 'IMP R02' followed by 8 digits.
Some meters only display day readings during the day period, and night readings during the night period.
The readings can also be listed as Rate 1 and Rate 2, or Rate 1 and Rate 4.
Which number is day and which is night varies from meter to meter. The guidance for your meter may be written on the meter itself, or it may say 'Low' or 'L' (night) and 'Normal' or 'N' (day) next to the readings.
If your smart meter has a green button labelled 'A'
This is an electricity meter. Press the green button until you see 'Total Act Import'. A reading should appear followed by 'kWh'.
If you have a 2 rate meter (sometimes called Economy 7), your meter will have a '01' and a '02' reading, which you'll find by pressing the 'A' button. You should record both numbers. Which number is day and which is night varies from meter to meter.
If your smart meter has 'A' and 'B' buttons
This meter reading is 12345.
Press the 'A' button until you see 'Credit On', then press it again to show 'Meter Index', and again to show your readings.
For electricity meters, it will show 'kWh'. For gas meters, it will show 'm3'.
If your smart meter has no buttons
The screen will cycle through readings.
The number starting with 'R1' is your electricity reading.
If you have a 2 rate meter (sometimes called Economy 7), your meter will have an 'R1' and an 'R2' reading, which you'll find by pressing the 'A' button. You should record both numbers. Which number is day and which is night varies from meter to meter.
If you see a 'T' reading, we don't need this. This stands for 'total' and should be the total of the other two readings.
If you're not sure how to read your meter
If you're ever unsure about how to read your meter, give us a ring on 0330 822 0266 or email a picture of your meter to [email protected] and we'll be able to help.