Don't Miss the Deadline!
With just days left, millions of households across the UK are being reminded to submit their meter readings to ensure they are not overcharged on their energy bills. The new price cap set by Ofgem has come into effect on January 1, resulting in an average annual bill increase of £94 for the average household. Read on to find out when you need to submit your meter readings and how to do it.
Why Submitting Meter Readings is Important
By submitting meter readings, you prevent energy suppliers from estimating your usage and potentially charging you more than you owe. It ensures that you are only billed for the energy you have actually consumed. It's a simple step that can save you money.
Submit Your Meter Reading Based on Your Supplier
Each energy supplier has a different deadline for submitting meter readings. Here are the dates you need to keep in mind:
British Gas
Deadline: January 14
Submit your meter reading via your online account, the British Gas app, phone, or a form on the British Gas website.
Scottish Power
Deadline: January 5
Submit your meter reading via your online account, the Scottish Power app, or phone.
E.On Next
Deadline: January 8
Submit your backdated meter reading via your online account, app, email, or phone.
EDF
Deadline: January 8
Submit your backdated meter reading via your online account, WhatsApp, SMS, or a form on the EDF website.
Octopus Energy
Deadline: January 8
Submit your meter reading via your online account, a form on the Octopus Energy website, app, or email.
Ovo Energy
Deadline: January 11
Submit your backdated meter reading via your online account, app, or phone.
Shell Energy
Deadline: 30 days from January 1
Submit your meter reading via your online account, the Shell Energy app, or phone.
Utility Warehouse
Deadline: January 8
Submit your meter reading via your online account, the app, or phone.
*Please note that we are awaiting confirmation from So Energy regarding their deadline.
How to Take a Meter Reading
Here's a quick guide on how to take a meter reading for electricity and gas:
Electricity Meters
If you have a digital meter, note down the five numbers in black on the display dashboard, ignoring the red number. If you have an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, there may be two rows of numbers, so take both down. For traditional dial meters, read the first five dials from left to right, ignoring any red ones. If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number. If it's between nine and zero, write down nine. If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it. If you've underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. If that pointer is between 9 and 0, reduce the underlined number by 1.
Gas Meters
If you have a digital metric meter, write down the first five numbers from left to right. If you have a digital imperial meter, note down the four black numbers only, ignoring the red ones. For dial gas meters, follow the same steps as dial electricity meters, but do not underline any figures.
Once you have taken a meter reading, you can take a picture of it and send it to your supplier through whichever means they accept.
How Often Should You Submit Meter Readings?
How often you should submit meter readings depends on your payment frequency. If you pay monthly, submit a reading two days before your payment date every four weeks. If you are billed quarterly, you only need to take meter readings every three months.
By submitting your meter readings on time, you can ensure accurate billing and avoid overcharging on your energy bills. Don't miss the deadline!
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