How do I read my meter?

There's different types of meters, which can sometimes be confusing. We're here to help you understand yours better. Electricity and gas meters record your usage in different units (electricity in kWh, and gas in m³ or ft³).

We’ve compiled a list to help you work out which type of meter you have and how to read it. If you've got a smart meter try our guide How to read your smart meter.

Once you know how to read your meter, make sure you regularly submit your readings online to keep you on top of your energy. You can also set up email reminders online.

• Does your electricity meter look like any of these?
  • Single rate meter
  • Two rate meter
  • Dial meter
• Does your gas meter resemble any of these?
  • Gas imperial meter
  • Dial meter
  • Gas metric meter

Single rate meter

Digital:

Analogue

• If so, write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 07220

Two rate meter

• If you have a 2-rate meter, that means the meter records how much energy you use during you the day and night time.
• The row marked 'LOW', 'L' or 'NIGHT') shows how many units of off-peak electricity you have used.
• The row marked 'NORMAL', 'N' or 'DAY') shows how many units of peak electricity you have used.
• If your meter isn't clearly labelled, we can help you find out which is day and which is night.
• Write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 556315 & 217457.

Dial meter

• Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it, so check which way each dial turns. Read the dials from left to right, ignoring the dial marked 1/10.
• Write down the number that the pointer has just passed e.g. if the pointer is between 2 and 3 write down 2.
• The reading for the above meter is 26929.

Does your gas meter resemble any of these?

Gas imperial meter

• Write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 2988.

Dial meter

• Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it, so check which way each turns.
• Read the dials from left to right.
• Write down the number that the pointer has just passed e.g. if the pointer is between 2 and 3 write down 2.
• The reading for the above meter is 2692.

Gas metric meter

• Write down all the numbers from left to right including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
• The reading for the above meter is 75793.