Today (March 31) is being dubbed as "national meter reading day" across the UK, with consumer websites and energy companies all encouraging customers to check their devices. From April 1, energy tariffs are set to rise dramatically, with bills expected to rise by an average of 54%.
By reporting a meter reading today, you can make sure that you are paying the lower rate for all the energy you use up to the last moment before the price rise hits. Otherwise your energy supplier will estimate how much of your usage was before the change, and you could end up paying more than you should.
Given the circumstances, energy companies are anticipating a high volume of phone calls on Thursday as people scramble to register their latest readings. It is therefore much easier in most cases to submit your readings online or via your supplier's app.
READ MORE: Everything you need to do before energy price deadline looms
SurreyLive has checked with four of the largest energy suppliers about the best way to submit meter readings if you are one of their customers. We also have all the information you need on how to take a meter reading.
How to read your electricity meter
There are several different types of electric meter, so the instructions for how to take a reading depend on which kind you have. Many households still have a digital meter, which displays five numbers (and sometimes a sixth in red). To take the reading, simply write down those first five numbers - you can ignore the one in red.
Some meters have two rows of numbers - this means you have a 'two-rate' meter which charges you at two different rates depending on the time of day that you use your electricity. If you have a meter of this kind, you need to record the first five numbers on both rows, and give all of this information to your supplier.
If you have a meter with an electronic display then it's possible you have a two-rate meter but it might only display one set of numbers at a time. These will either flash up the two different readings in a cycle, or there will be a button that you need to press to make the display cycle through the two different readings.
Some homes have a 'dial meter', which shows a series of five dials that look a bit like clocks. The principle here is still the same - write down the five numbers that the five dials are pointing towards, and report that five-digit number to your energy supplier.
Increasing numbers of homes now have something called a 'smart meter', which shouldn't require you to take a reading at all as it should automatically send the reading to your supplier on a regular basis. Nonetheless, you can still take a reading from your meter. There are several different types of smart meter, and Citizens Advice has a useful guide with information about how to take a reading from each type.
How to read your gas meter
As with electric meters, many gas meters are digital - which means that they show their reading as a display of numbers. To confuse matters slightly, some digital gas meters are imperial and some are metric.
A digital imperial meter will show four numbers in black or white, and then two more numbers in red. If your meter looks like this, you just need to record the four numbers in black or white, and you can ignore the ones in red.
A digital metric meter will display 5 numbers, then a decimal point, then some more numbers. If your meter looks like this, you just need to record the five digits before the digital point and you can ignore anything that comes afterwards.
As with electric meters, some gas meters display a series of dials rather than digits. If your meter looks like this, simply record from left to right the numbers that each of the dials is pointing towards (there should be four dials) and send that four digit number to your supplier.
Again, some gas meters are smart meters and these should send readings automatically. If you want to take a reading yourself, Citizens Advice has a useful guide to the various different types of gas meter.
Submitting your meter readings to SSE
SSE says the quickest way to give them your reading is by using the My SSE app. Once you have the app, you can use it to scan your meter reading with the camera on your smartphone.
You’ll need to register online before you can use the app, but alternatively you can also submit readings on the SSE website without registering. Be aware that it can take up to five days to update your account if you use this method.
Submitting your meter readings to British Gas
British Gas also has an app that customers can use to submit meter readings. However, customers with smart meters cannot submit readings using this method.
You can also submit readings on the company website - if you have an online account you just login and click on 'Meter readings' - otherwise you can go to this page and click 'Not yet online'. You can also submit readings by phone on 0333 202 9802.
Submitting your meter readings to EDF
EDF also provides an app which is available on both iOS and Android. You can use the app to submit photos of your meter, and a staff member will contact you within three working days if they have any problem processing it.
Alternatively, registered online users can use the MyAccount feature to submit a reading. Anyone without an online account can submit a reading here.
Submitting your meter readings to EON
EON says the quickest way for customers to give them a meter reading is through their online account. If you don’t have one yet, you can register here.
You can also provide meter readings without an online account by clicking here. Alternatively, like the other providers mentioned above, EON has an app that customers can download to their phones.
