Households urged to take meter readings today before energy bills rise at midnight
HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to take their energy meter readings before bills rise for 24million people from midnight.
If you are on a traditional meter and don’t send regular readings to your supplier, you could end up being charged too much.
If you’re on a smart or pre-payment meter you don’t need to do this as close to today as possible.
The average household energy bill will go up from £1,971 to a frozen £2,500 next month under the Energy Price Guarantee announced by Prime Minister Liz Truss earlier this month.
However, millions of households will be receiving a £400 energy rebate off their bills from October to March 2023.
It’s worth noting the Energy Price Guarantee only caps the cost per unit households pay, so your actual bill could be more or less than £2,500.
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It will all depend on how much energy you use.
To ensure customers on traditional meters aren’t charged more than they should be on the lower rate, they are being urged to get their meter readings around October 1.
You have some time to submit the reading, depending on your supplier.
Some are recommending that you take a photo today, which you can then submit later if you’re unable to get online today.
Scottish Power said customers have to get readings in by October 5 which can be done via its app or online.
An Octopus Energy spokesperson said customers on traditional energy meters just have to take a picture of their meter on October 1 and submit it within a week.
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An OVO Energy spokesperson said if customers want to submit a meter reading after September 30 they will need to call the supplier to backdate the reading.
This applies to SSE customers as well. SSE Energy is part of OVO Energy.
A Bulb Energy spokesperson said customers can submit a meter reading from now until October 3 and that reading will be used for September bills.
They added if customers need to backdate a meter reading they can email it and the date it was taken to hello@bulb.co.uk.
An EDF spokesperson said customers have until October 7 to submit meter readings on September 30 and October 1 via its online form.
The supplier also said it will make sure customers who submit a meter reading over the coming week pay the lower rate for the energy used before the price rise.
An E.ON spokesperson said customers can send meter readings from five days before October 1 and five days after.
A Shell Energy spokesperson said customers have 30 days from October 1 to submit meter readings.
A Utility Warehouse spokesperson said customer can submit meter readings up to five days after taking it.
We have approached British Gas and So Energy to find out how long customers have to submit their readings and will update this story when we know more.
By taking meter readings, it will ensure you are billed correctly for your usage up until now ahead of the price rise.
Industry body Energy UK said high call volumes and website traffic were expected on suppliers’ websites, and recommended customers check beforehand for the best way to submit readings.
The last time the price cap went up, a range of energy suppliers websites’ crashed due to the sheer number of people on them trying to submit readings at the same time.
Frazer Scott, chief executive of Energy Action Scotland, said: “This week, every household across the UK must make sure it submits a meter reading to their energy firm to avoid paying a penny more than they absolutely have to when prices go up on October 1.”
Research by comparison site Uswitch suggests a fifth of households (20%) will only be able to cope with rising bills this winter by cutting back their usage.
Ben Gallizzi, energy spokesman at Uswitch.com, said: “Energy bills are still due to rise in October despite the Government support, and we know that many people are feeling anxious about the winter ahead.
“Keeping on top of your home energy consumption will be especially important during the coldest months when the heating comes on.”
Why do I need to take regular meter readings?
If you take regular readings your supplier can work out how much they should bill you.
If you don’t submit readings to your supplier, they’ll estimate your usage and you could end up being charged more.
According to comparethemarket.com, how often you should submit readings will depend on how often you’re billed.
If it’s every month, you should aim to submit a reading two days before your payment date every four or so weeks.
If you are billed quarterly, you’ll only need to take meter readings every three months.
If you’re on a smart meter, you don’t need to take any readings as they will be taken automatically.
It’s also worth taking a picture of your meter reading as evidence if your supplier raises questions about what you’ve submitted.
It comes after consumer champion Martin Lewis urged millions to get their readings done.
How do you take a meter reading?
In most cases you’ll be able to call your supplier to give them the readings, and in others you might be able to submit them online or on an app.
Electricity meters
If you have a digital electricity or gas meter, you see a row of six numbers on the display dashboard – five in black and one in red.
You will need to note down the five numbers in black and ignore the red number.
If you are on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, which means you get cheaper electricity throughout the night, you may see two rows of numbers.
You should take both down.
If you have a traditional dial meter, you will have to read the first five dials from left to right and ignore any red ones.
If the pointer is between two numbers, you will need to 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.
Citizens Advice says that if you’ve underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you’ve underlined by 1. For example, if you originally wrote down 5, change it to 4.
Gas meters
If you have a digital metric meter showing five numbers then a decimal place, you only need to write down the first five number from left to right.
If you have a digital imperial meter your meter will read four black numbers and two red numbers – note down the four black numbers only.
If you have a dial gas meter follow the same steps for those with a dial electricity meter but ignore underlining any figures.
What other energy bill help can I get?
From October 1, millions of households will start receiving a £400 energy rebate.
The payment will be made to your energy supplier who will then deduct it from your bill.
Households will receive a £66 discount in October and November, and a £67 one every month from December to March.
Millions of pensioners who usually get the Winter Fuel Allowance will receive £300 on top from November.
Some households are set to get a £150 Warm Home Discount between December and March 2023 as well.
You might also be able to get an energy grant from your supplier.
British Gas is offering one, as well as Bulb Energy, EDF, E.on, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy and Scottish Power.
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You can also get free debt advice from:
- Money Helper – 0800 138 7777
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
- StepChange – 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000