How to read your Electricity Meter

Single-rate digital electricity meters

A single-rate meter has one set of numbers to refer to, and measure energy use in kWh.

To read it, you need to:

• Write down all the numbers before the decimal point, from left to right.

• Ignore any numbers after the decimal point (which may be shown in red).

Dial electricity meters

This type of meter shows a series of clock-style dials with numbers from zero to nine.

Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the dial before it, and some dial electricity meters show a series of clock-style dials.

To take a reading, you need to:

• Start with the left dial and write down the number indicated by the pointer on each dial, moving towards the right.

• If the pointer is between two numbers, record the lower of the two. If the pointer is between nine and zero, record it as nine.

• Ignore any red dials.

Variable-rate electricity meters

Economy 7 (called white meters in Scotland) and Economy 10 meters have two displays or the ability to switch between the two. They have readings for daytime and night use. The display marked 'low' or 'night' show how many units of off peak electricity you've used, while the display marked 'normal' or 'day' shows how many units of peak electricity you have used.

Economy 7 and Economy 10 are the two most common time-of-use tariffs. If you're on one of these, you’ll probably have a special electricity meter that provides two different readings (also known as a two-rate meter). However, this will change as smart meters become more widespread and special meters will no longer be necessary. This will enable all homes with smart meters to access time-of-use tariffs. Numerous energy firms are already trying to upgrade all of their Economy 7 & 10 meters to Smart Meters.

Time-of-use tariffs charge different rates for electricity used at different times of day. For example, a more expensive rate for electricity used at times of peak demand in the daytime, and a cheaper overnight rate.