The Ultimate Guide to Reading Your Energy Meter (Whatever Type You Have)

Quick summary: Learning how to read your energy meter means knowing which numbers to record, which figures to ignore and how to submit an accurate reading for the type of meter installed at your property.

Why knowing how to read your energy meter matters

Your energy meter is one of the most useful tools you have for understanding how much gas or electricity you are actually using. Even if you only check it when your supplier asks for a reading, the figures displayed can help you confirm whether your bills reflect your actual consumption rather than an estimate.

Regular readings make it easier to spot unusual changes, such as spikes or drops in energy usage. If the figure has risen much faster than expected, you can investigate whether there has been a genuine increase in usage, a change in operating patterns, or a possible issue that needs checking. Keeping your own record also gives you something useful to compare against future bills.

Types of energy meters you might have

Before taking a reading, identify the type of meter in front of you. The basic principle is similar across most meters, but the buttons, displays and numbers you need to interpret can vary.

Smart meters (SMETS1 and SMETS2)

Smart meters record your energy use digitally and send readings to your supplier automatically. The exact display varies by manufacturer. Some smart meters show the reading automatically when the screen wakes, while others require you to press a button or move through a short menu.

Digital meters

A digital electricity meter has a numerical display rather than rotating dials. Many standard electricity meters show one continuous kWh reading. Others have buttons that let you move through several screens.

Single-rate digital meters are usually straightforward. You generally record the whole numbers shown from left to right and ignore figures after the decimal point. Depending on the meter, you may also need to ignore a red digit. Make sure to properly identify the meter in your workplace.

Traditional dial meters

Dial electricity meters, common in areas with much older buildings, use several small clock-style dials positioned next to one another. They look complicated, but a simple method works once you know what to watch for.

The dials usually rotate in alternating directions. You read them from left to right, recording the number each pointer has just passed. Take particular care when a pointer sits close to a number, because rounding up too early can produce an incorrect reading.

Prepayment meters

Prepayment meters require you to pay for energy in advance, traditionally using a key, card or token, although smart prepayment meters are also available.

How to read a smart meter

No single button sequence applies to every smart meter, so first look at the buttons and labels on the unit itself.

Waking up the display

Smart meter screens often go blank when not in use. This usually doesn’t mean the meter has stopped working. Pressing one of the available buttons should wake the screen.

Finding your electricity reading

Once the display is awake, look for a figure accompanied by terms such as kWh, total import, import or meter index. This is normally the cumulative amount of electricity recorded by the meter. If your meter has more than one rate, there may be separate readings for each register. In that case, record all required rates rather than stopping at the first number you find.

Finding your gas reading

A smart gas meter usually records the volume of gas used. Wake the display and move through the available screens until you see the meter reading or index. The reading is normally shown in cubic metres on modern metric meters. Record the whole-number portion unless your supplier specifically requests decimal places.

What the numbers on screen mean

The most important distinction is between a cumulative meter reading and live usage information. A smart meter or separate display may show current energy use, cost, tariff information, balance or historical consumption. Those figures are useful, but they are not necessarily the reading your supplier needs.

How to read a digital electric meter

Standard digital electricity meters are common and are usually among the easiest meters to read.

Locating the display button

Some digital meters show the reading constantly. Others use a button that cycles through different screens. Press the button until you see the total electricity consumption figure. If several values appear, look for a label such as total, import, rate or kWh. Multi-rate meters require extra care because you may need to submit more than one register.

Reading the kWh figure

Electricity consumption is measured in kilowatt-hours, written as kWh. Read the figures from left to right exactly as they appear before any decimal section. For example, if the display reads 054321.7 kWh, you would normally record 054321. Keeping leading zeros is sensible when writing the figure down because it reduces the chance of accidentally shifting the digits.

Ignoring numbers after the decimal point

For most manual electricity readings, your supplier needs the whole units rather than the decimal fraction. If the meter uses a decimal point, ignore the digits after it unless you’ve been specifically asked to include them. Some older digital displays use a red digit rather than an obvious decimal point. That red figure generally represents a fraction of a unit and is not included in the reading.

How to read a traditional dial electricity meter

Dial meters require a little more attention, but with a little bit of knowledge you can cut out the guesswork. 

Understanding the dial sequence

You will usually see a row of several numbered dials. Read the useful dials from left to right. A final dial marked differently or showing fractions may not form part of the reading. Each pointer moves as electricity is consumed. Because neighbouring dials often rotate in opposite directions, reading them as though they all move clockwise is a very common and understandable mistake.

Reading clockwise and anticlockwise dials

Look at the direction the numbers are arranged on each dial. If the numbers increase clockwise, read that dial clockwise. If they increase anticlockwise, read it in that direction. For each dial, write down the number the pointer has just passed. For example, if the pointer is between 4 and 5, record 4.

Recording the correct digits

When a pointer appears to sit exactly on a number, check the dial immediately to its right. If the next dial has not yet passed zero, the first pointer has not fully reached its displayed number, so use the previous number instead.

Take your time and work slowly across the meter and write the digits down in one uninterrupted sequence. Once complete, compare the result with a previous bill or reading.

How to read a smart or digital gas meter

Gas smart meters and digital meters use a similar cumulative-reading principle to electricity meters, but they display different units.

Waking the gas meter display

If the meter screen is blank, press the relevant button to turn it on. Depending on the model, one press may show the reading while another meter may require you to cycle through several screens. Look for wording such as meter index, volume or a unit marker such as m³.

Finding the volume reading

Modern metric gas meters record gas volume in cubic metres. Read the whole digits from left to right and normally ignore numbers after the decimal point. 

Older imperial gas meters may record cubic feet instead. The unit should be marked on the meter, so never assume that two gas meters use the same measurement simply because their displays look similar.

Converting to kWh

Your gas meter generally records volume, while your energy bill charges gas consumption in kWh. Your supplier converts the meter volume into energy using a calculation that accounts for factors including the volume correction factor and the gas’s calorific value.

You usually do not need to perform this calculation when submitting a reading. Give your supplier the meter reading in the unit displayed on the meter, and they can apply the appropriate conversion for you when calculating your bill.

How to take a meter reading step by step

Once you know the meter type, taking a reading becomes a quick routine.

• Locate your meter

Meters may be inside a property, in a cupboard, plant room or utility area, or in an external meter box. In all sorts of commercial premises, there may be several meters, so confirm that you are looking at the correct one. If you’re unsure, check the meter serial number against your bill. This is especially useful in shared buildings or sites with multiple supply points.

• Wake or activate the display

For smart, digital and prepayment meters, activate the screen if necessary. Move through the menu until you reach the actual cumulative reading. For a dial meter, no activation is required. Make sure there is enough light to see exactly where each pointer sits.

• Record the correct digits

Write the reading down from left to right. Ignore decimal digits, red figures or fractional dials where the meter type requires this. If the meter has two or more rates, label each reading clearly.

• Double-check against your bill

Compare the meter serial number and your latest reading with the information on your bill. This helps confirm you read the correct meter and makes unexpectedly large differences easier to spot.

Economy 7 and multi-rate meter readings

Some electricity tariffs charge different rates depending on when you use energy. Economy 7 is a familiar example, with separate day and night consumption.

Reading day and night rates separately

A multi-rate meter may show readings labelled Rate 1 and Rate 2, R1 and R2, low and normal, or day and night. You may need to press a button to move between them.

Write down both readings and their labels. Do not assume Rate 1 is always the night rate or Rate 2 is always the day rate, because register configuration can vary.

Why multi-rate meters need extra steps

With a single-rate meter, one cumulative figure is enough. A multi-rate tariff relies on separate registers, so supplying only one reading can leave part of your consumption unaccounted for or estimated.

If you are unsure which register corresponds to which tariff period, compare the labels with a previous bill or ask your supplier to confirm them in writing.

What to do with your meter reading once you have it

A meter reading is most valuable when it reaches your supplier and you keep it as part of your records.

Submitting readings online or by phone

Many suppliers let customers submit readings online, through an account portal, app or web form. Telephone submission may also be available.

D-ENERGi customers can manage their account online, including submitting meter readings and viewing billing history and balances. Our platform also allows customers to provide readings over the phone if they need help.

Checking readings against estimated bills

Look at your bill to see whether the opening and closing meter readings are marked as actual or estimated. If a bill has been based on an estimate and you have a current accurate reading, submitting it gives your supplier more useful information for billing.

Also check the meter serial number on the bill. If it does not match the physical meter at your premises, contact your supplier.

Keeping a reading history

Record each reading with the date, meter type and register label where relevant. A simple spreadsheet, notebook or folder of meter photographs is enough.

Common meter reading mistakes to avoid

Most meter-reading errors come from reading the wrong part of the display, not from the meter itself.

Recording the wrong digits

Decimal places, red digits and fractional dials can easily be mistaken for whole units. Before writing anything down, identify where the main reading ends.

Mixing up gas and electricity readings

Gas and electricity meters can both have digital displays, especially where smart meters have been installed. Check the meter labels, units and serial number before submitting anything. Electricity readings are commonly associated with kWh on the meter, while gas meters usually record volume. Sending the correct figure to the wrong account can create unnecessary billing confusion.

Missing the decimal point rule

Including decimal digits can make a reading appear far higher than it really is. If a meter shows 12345.6 and the decimal is accidentally submitted as part of the whole reading, the resulting figure can be interpreted incorrectly.

For standard manual readings, record the whole-number section unless your supplier gives different instructions.

How D-ENERGi can help with your energy account

Accurate readings are only one part of keeping a business energy account under control. It also helps to have clear access to your billing information, contract details and consumption history.

D-ENERGi provides proper support for business energy customers with an online customer portal where they can submit meter readings, view contract information, check billing history and balances, download invoices and request half-hourly data. Customers who prefer to speak to somebody can also contact the customer services team for help with their account or meter readings.

For eligible businesses, smart and automated metering can reduce manual reading by sending consumption information directly to the supplier. D-ENERGi also provides information on smart meter options for business customers, including SMETS2 and AMR metering where appropriate.

If you are unsure whether a reading is correct, cannot identify the right register or think the meter information on your bill does not match the meter at your premises, checking before submitting a figure can save time later. D-ENERGi customers can contact the team for support with meter readings and account information.

Conclusion

Learning how to read your energy meter is much easier once you identify the type of meter you have. Digital and smart meters usually require you to find the correct cumulative figure, dial meters require you to follow each pointer carefully, and multi-rate meters need every relevant register.

The same basic habits make the process more reliable whatever the meter type: check the serial number, read from left to right, ignore decimal or fractional figures where required, record the date and compare the result with your previous reading or bill.

Even where a smart meter sends information automatically, understanding what the meter displays gives you another way to keep an eye on consumption and billing. A few minutes spent checking the reading can reassure you that the figures on your account reflect the energy your property or business has actually used.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read my smart meter?

Wake the meter display by pressing the relevant button, then move through the screens until you find the cumulative electricity or gas reading. For electricity, look for a total or import reading in kWh. For gas, look for the meter index or volume reading. Button sequences vary by model, so use the make-and-model guidance if the correct screen is unclear.

How do I take a meter reading from a digital electric meter?

Look at the numerical display and record the whole digits from left to right. Ignore numbers after the decimal point and, on meters where it represents a fractional unit, any red digit. If the meter has several rates, record each required register separately.

How do I read a traditional dial meter?

Read the dials from left to right, remembering that adjacent dials may turn in opposite directions. For each dial, record the number the pointer has just passed. If a pointer appears exactly on a number, check the dial to its right before deciding whether that number has fully been reached.

What do the red numbers on my meter mean?

Red numbers commonly represent fractions of a unit rather than the main whole-number reading. You usually leave them out when submitting a standard meter reading. However, meter designs vary, so check your supplier’s instructions if the display is unusual.

Why is my meter reading different from my bill?

Your bill may use an estimated reading, cover an earlier billing date, or, in some cases, show information for a different register. Compare the reading dates and check the meter serial number. If you can’t explain the difference, contact your supplier and provide the current reading so they can review the account.