Sometimes it can be difficult to understand what the numbers on your meter mean. Especially if it is a type of meter you haven't used before. That's why we have created this handy guide to help you with every step of the meter reading process. 

One of the first and main things to note is that electricity is measured in kWh and gas is in m³ or ft³.

If you have a SMART meter, you can use our How to read a SMART meter guide.

You may also be asked to show your meter serial number from time to time, you can find this on the front of your meter, it is usually known as an MPAN.

Once you understand how you read your meter, it is important you know when to submit readings (usually 5 days before your bill is generated) so that your monthly statements are raised using the figures you send in to us. 

You can submit these online or by downloading our app from the App Store or Google Play Store.

Electricity Meters

Single Rate Meters: 

Depending on whether you have a digital or analogue meter, your readings will show like this: 

Digital- 

Analogue- 

• All you need to do is write the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. 
• Any numbers after a decimal point can be ignored. 
• The reading for the meter above is 04321.

Two-Rate Meters: 

Your two-rate meter display should look like this: 

• Two rate meters will show two different figures. The one marked "LOW", "L" or "NIGHT" is the off-peak electricity reading. 
• The second figure labelled "NORMAL", "N" or "DAY" is the on-peak electricity reading. 
• Make sure when you submit meter readings you send us both of the figures from left to right including any zeros. 
• Any numbers after a decimal point or in red can be ignored. 
• The reading for the meters above are 6234 (off-peak) and 3819 (on-peak). 

Dial Meter: 

Dial meters (arguably are one of the most difficult to read), will look like the image below: 

• Each dial will spin the opposite way to the one next to it. You should read the dials from left to right. 
• You should write down the number the arrow is pointing to. If it is in between two numbers like the third dial on the image above, you should use the number that the arrow has just passed. In this case, it would be 4. 
• The reading for this meter is 13408. 

Gas Meters

Imperial Meter: 

If your display looks like this, it should be one of the easier types to understand. 

• You should write down all numbers displayed from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after a decimal point or that are shown in red.
• The reading for this gas meter is 6462.

Dial Meter:

Again, the dial meters are known to be difficult to read, but with a little understanding on how they work, you shouldn't have any issues. 

• Each of the dials spins a different way to the one next to it so it is important you know which way they turn. 
• You should read the dials from left to right. 
• Write the number the arrow is pointing to. If it is in between two figures, you should write down the one the arrow has just pass. In this case, on the third dial, you should write 1 as the pointer is not yet at 2. 
• The reading for this meter is 3125.

Metric Meter:

If your meter shows m³, you should follow the same instructions as the imperial meter. 

• Write down all the numbers shown on the display from left to right, including any zeros. Please ignore any figures that are after a decimal point or in red. 
• The reading for this meter is 41506.