![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/cc873cae-6d05-4621-aad1-c267ae7252cc.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMILLIONS of households have just under two weeks to take meter readings to avoid being overcharged.<\/p>\n
An updated meter reading will mean your supplier has a more accurate idea of your usage and bill you accurately.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Households should do it before the new price cap comes into force on October 1.<\/p>\n
Typical gas and electricity bills will be\u00a0capped at \u00a31,923 a year from this date.<\/p>\n
The fall in\u00a0Ofgem's price cap\u00a0will mean a typical household will see their bills fall by \u00a3151 a year.<\/p>\n
Energy suppliers usually require you to take regular meter readings from your gas and electricity meter to work out how much they should charge you.<\/p>\n
Customers who don't do this are billed on estimated usage and will likely pay more.<\/p>\n
So it's definitely worth figuring out how to take a meter reading to ensure you're not overcharged.<\/p>\n
You'll need to read your numbers if you don't have a smart meter.<\/p>\n
But those with smart meters don't need to send a manual reading because they're sent to suppliers automatically.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n If you don't have a smart meter, your energy supplier will usually require regular readings from your gas and electricity meter to work out how much you should be charged.<\/p>\n Customers that don't send their suppliers regular readings will have their bills calculated by estimated usage and they will likely pay more – so it is always worth knowing how to send the numbers.<\/p>\n Once you've taken a reading, you should be able to submit it a number of ways including text message or phone.<\/p>\n You might also be able to submit it online or through your supplier's\u00a0app.<\/p>\n It's best to check with your supplier to see what your options are.<\/p>\n It's always worth taking a picture of your meter reading when you submit it to your supplier – just in case you need it as evidence for a future dispute.<\/p>\n The way you take a meter reading depends on what type of meter you have – we've explained how to take a reading depending on your meter type.<\/p>\n If you have a digital electricity meter, you will just see a row of six numbers – five in black and one in red.<\/p>\n Take down the five numbers in black and ignore the red number.<\/p>\n If you are on an\u00a0Economy 7 or 10 tariff\u00a0which gives you cheaper electricity at night – you will have two rows of numbers, so take both readings down.<\/p>\n If you have a traditional dial meter you will need to read the first five dials from left to right ignoring any red ones.<\/p>\n If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower figures and if it is between nine and zero write down the number nine.<\/p>\n If the dial is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. <\/p>\n If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you\u2019ve underlined by 1.<\/p>\n For example, if you originally wrote down 5, change it to 4.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n If you have a dial gas meter follow the same steps for those with a dial electricity meter but ignore underlining any figures.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/newspress-collage-23991994-1694965700388.jpg\")
<\/picture>SHELF LIFE <\/span><\/p>\nI work at Tesco – here are 11 things I wish we could tell you… but we can’t<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/2020-03-08-amazon-prime-818238208.jpg\")
<\/picture>GOING UP <\/span><\/p>\nAmazon is making a major change to deliveries in hours & Prime members are livid<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/636ed0cb-b155-4347-9365-2e4b64756b74.jpg\")
<\/picture>WILKO WOES <\/span><\/p>\nWilko to close 38 stores in hours as shoppers say ‘no words to describe’ sadness<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/2023-uk-mcdonalds-workers-received-832550054.jpg\")
<\/picture>LOVIN’ IT <\/span><\/p>\nMcDonald’s launches huge discount never seen before – but you’ll need to be quick<\/h3>\n
How do I take a meter reading?<\/h2>\n
Electricity meters<\/h3>\n
Gas meters<\/h3>\n
READ MORE SUN STORIES<\/span><\/h2>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/RW-COMP-CHOCOLATE-SEP11.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe 6 best chocolate bars if you\u2019re trying to lose weight – and the 3 to avoid<\/h3>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/ovie-comp.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLove Island favourite reveals huge new career change away from reality TV<\/h3>\n