Millions of energy customers have just DAYS to submit a meter reading or risk higher bills
THE clock is ticking for millions of households to submit a meter reading to avoid paying over the odds for their energy use.
Bill payers have until October 1 to get an up-to-date reading before the energy price cap jumps by 10%.
Under the changes, the average dual fuel bill paid by direct debit will jump by £149 from £1,568 to £1,717, under the cap set by industry regulator Ofgem.
It’s important to submit a meter reading as rates change to make sure all energy use up to that point is charged at the lower rate.
The exact deadline for submitting readings differs depending on your supplier and some will allow you to backdate the reading from the date it was meant to be submitted.
In some cases, you have an extra two weeks to submit a reading.
If customers don’t provide a meter reading, they will be given an estimated bill.
In this case, some of your energy usage ahead of October 1 could be charged at the new higher rate.
Giving an exact reading at the time the rates change prevents this from happening.
If you have a smart meter, you don’t need to take a reading as information is automatically sent to your supplier.
However, you should do a quick check to make sure it is working properly and reporting your usage accurately.
There’s also no need to submit a meter reading if you’re on a fixed energy tariff or have a traditional prepayment meter.
The looming price rises are a blow for struggling households after energy bills fell to a two-year low at the beginning of July.
The energy price cap is reviewed every three months and it’s important to submit a reading each time.
This stops you being overcharged or even underpaying, which could mean having to pay more further down the line.
Here are the deadlines suppliers have confirmed to The Sun for submitting meter reads as the energy price cap changes.
- British Gas
British Gas customers can submit their meter readings up until October 14.
This can be done through an online account, through the British Gas app, over the phone or through a form on the firm’s website.
You can call British Gas on 0330 100 0056 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
- EDF
EDF customers will be able to back date their meter reads at any time up to and including Wednesday October 9.
Customers will be able to leave meter reads via the EDF App, or online via their MyAccount. Readings can also be submitted via telephone, email or by text and WhatsApp.
- Octopus
Octopus Energy customers have until the end of October 8 to submit their meter readings.
Meter readings can be submitted through online accounts, a form on the provider’s website, app or email.
- Ovo
Customers can submit their meter readings via the app, online account, phone, Whatsapp or webchat at any time.
- Scottish Power
Scottish Power has no deadline for meter readings. Customers can update meter readings as and when they wish to provide them.
If you are on a standard variable or default tariff with Scottish Power, then the energy price cap will automatically apply.
However, if your prices need to increase as a result, there’s no need to contact them.
Scottish Power said: “We’ll write to you by letter or email to let you know what your new prices will be before the change takes place.”
HOW TO TAKE A METER READING
If you don’t your supplier a regular meter reading your bills will be based on estimated energy use.
This can mean paying more than necessary or underpaying and then having to make bigger payments later.
Taking a meter reading should only take a minute, and once you have noted down the figures you can usually give to your provider by text, online or through an app.
Look up the individual options with your own supplier.
It’s a good idea to take a quick picture of your meter reading when you submit it – just in case you need it as evidence in any disputes that arise.
Exactly how you take a meter reading depends on the type of meter you have.
Electricity meters
If you have a digital electricity meter, you will just see a row of six numbers – five in black and one in red.
Take down the five numbers in black-you don’t need the red number.
If you are on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff which gives you cheaper electricity at night – you will have two rows of numbers and need both.
If you have a traditional dial meter you will need to read the first five dials from left to right, again you don’t need the red ones.
If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower figure and if it is between nine and zero write down the number nine.
If the dial 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 the pointer on that dial is between nine and zero, reduce the number you’ve underlined by one.
For example, if you originally wrote down five, change it to four.
Gas meters
If you have a digital metric meter showing five numbers and then a decimal place, you only need to write down the first five numbers 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 as the dial electricity meter, but you don’t need to follow the process of underlining figures.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year – irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this will give you your usage costs.
You’ll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage – this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you’ll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.