Act today or risk being overcharged on energy bills

Millions of households are being urged to submit meter readings today or risk being overcharged for their energy usage.

The warning comes ahead of energy bills rising on 1 October when the price cap will increase by 10%. The average household on a standard variable tariff will pay £149 a year more for energy because of the increase.

Taking a meter reading today (30 September) means households won’t be charged at the higher rate for energy they used before the price cap changes.

Uswitch said households who fail to take a meter reading before the start of October could be charged as much as £18.81 more for their energy.

Unless you have a smart meter that takes readings automatically, providing up-to-date figures to your supplier is the only way to ensure you pay for what you use. Without providing them, your supplier will estimate your usage and what you pay will be based on that.

Ideally, you should submit a meter reading to your supplier every month.

How to take a meter reading

Reading your energy meters is quite simple. First, you need to find out where your meters are located. They’re usually found:

• Outside your home in a meter box
• In a cupboard, basement or cellar inside your home
• On an exterior wall of your home

If you live in a flat, your meters may be located in a communal area.

How your electricity meter works

There are a few different types of electricity meters, but the most common are standard and dial meters. Here's how to read each type:

Standard Meter

A standard electricity meter has a digital display or dials that show five numbers in black or white, and sometimes a single red number. To take a reading:

1. Write down the numbers shown from left to right, including any zeros
2. Ignore the red number, if there is one

Dial Meter

Some older electricity meters have clock-style dials instead of a digital display. To read a dial meter:

1. Read the dials from left to right, writing down the number the pointer has just passed (not the one it's approaching)
2. If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number
3. If the pointer is directly on a number, underline or circle it

What to do with your gas meter

Most gas meters are standard meters with a digital display showing five numbers in black or white, and sometimes a single red number. To take a gas meter reading:

1. Write down the numbers shown from left to right, including any zeros
2. Ignore the red number, if present

Some older gas meters may have dials instead that you can read using the same method.

How to submit your meter readings

Once you've carefully recorded the numbers on your electricity and gas meters, you'll need to submit the readings to your energy supplier. You can usually submit meter readings:

• Online through your energy supplier's website
• Through your supplier's automated phone system
• By post, email or live chat to your supplier's customer service

You should aim to submit meter readings once a month so that your bills are correct. Many suppliers will also send reminders when it's time to send in a new reading.

Smart meters make it easier to stay on top of your energy usage and bills

While taking meter readings manually is simple enough, upgrading to a smart meter makes it even easier. Smart meters automatically send readings to your supplier, so you don't have to remember to do it yourself. Many also come with in-home displays that show real-time energy usage, helping you better manage your consumption. Speak to your supplier if you are interested in switching to a smart meter.