How To Read Your Meter

We want to make sure your bills are as accurate as possible. Best way to do that is with actual, not estimated meter readings. So if you send us regular meter reads, ideally every three months, then we can send you more accurate bills.

Here are some general instructions on taking a meter read. These will cover the great majority of meter types. Follow the tips, and then send us your reading.

Which type?

• A dial meter
• A digital or mechanical meter
• A digital Economy 7 meter

How to read a dial meter

Example: The meter reading below = 8 5 1 0 9

So in the example

 

Units	Reading
10,000	The pointer is between the 8 and the 9; therefore = 8.
1,000	The pointer is between the 5 and the 6; therefore = 5.
100	The pointer is between the 1 and the 2; therefore = 1.
10	The pointer is on the 1. So need to look at the pointer on the dial to the right - it has not passed zero (because that pointer is between 9 and 0), therefore the dial is reading 0
1kWh	The pointer has just passed 9; therefore = 9.
1/10	Ignore this dial because the unit is too small for billing purposes.

 

Remember

1. Always read the dials from left to right.
2. The red dial is not required.
3. Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the dial next to it; clockwise for the first dial (on the left) and then anti-clockwise and so on.
4. Always write down the number that the pointer has passed. This is the lowest of the two numbers that the pointer is between.
5. If the pointer on a dial you are reading is exactly on a number, then uses the dial to the right to determine which number to use. If the pointer on the dial to the right has just passed zero (between 0 and 1) then the number you need for the dial on the left (the one you're reading) will be the number that the pointer is on, where as if the pointer om the dial to the right is just before zero (between 9 and 0) then the number to use will be one lower than which the left pointer is on.

How to read a digital or analogue meter

Example: The digital meter reading below = 0 9 8 1 2

Remember:

1. Always read the numbers from left to right and include any zeros.
2. Most of these meters will display readings to at least 1, and sometimes 2 decimal places.
3. On some meters you will be able to see the decimal point on the display. Other meters will not show a decimal point but there will be smaller red digits instead which will be the decimal units, 0.1 and 0.01 of a unit. These decimal places are not needed in the meter reading. the numbers are too small to be useful in billing. Please ignore them.
4. The examples below show the 3 ways in which a meter will display these smaller units.

 
 

How to read digital Economy 7 meters

If you are on Economy 7 then you need to be able to give us two readings: one for the day and one for the night. (Sometimes these are referred to as high and low.)

However, most digital Economy 7 meters only have one display. So you need to be able to know how to obtain both of the readings from your meter.

1. If you have a small digital meter with no buttons to press, then this means the display will flash between the readings that you need. You need to note down the readings that the meter is showing and then wait a few seconds for it to change the display to the other reading.
2. If your meter has a button, you will need to press this button to bring up the other reading(s). First you will need to know the reading that the meter is showing then press the button to bring up the next reading. Then keep pressing the button until the meter shows the first reading again.
3. If your meter has a button and shows more than 2 meter readings, then its worth noting all of these so we can ensure we get the correct 2 readings. This is because some meters have 3 readings: the day reading, the night reading and the total of the two readings.

Note -  Most meters will display which reading is Day and which is Night (This may also be shown as Peak and Off Peak or Low and Normal).  If your meter does not display this, then send us your readings and we'll determine day and night reads on your behalf.