The right way to take meter readings and why you need to do it earlier than October 1

With the rising price of residing, many Brits are in search of methods to economize.

And power invoice costs are a sizzling matter because the power worth cap has risen which means some households are 1000’s out of pocket.

Your provider wants common readings out of your fuel or electrical energy meter to work out the price of your payments.

If you happen to don’t ship them readings, they’ll estimate your utilization, which means you might be paying for extra, or much less, power than what you utilize.

When you have a sensible meter, they usually ship readings to your provider routinely, however if you happen to don’t you’ll want to be taking your personal.

And just lately, MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis has urged folks to take meter readings earlier than October 1.

However how do you’re taking a meter studying? Right here’s what you’ll want to know together with why you need to do it in time for October.

How do I take an electrical energy meter studying?

When you have a dial meter it might look extra formidable to take a studying.

When taking a studying, have a look at the primary 5 dials from left to proper whereas ignoring any crimson dials or dials marked 1/10.

If the dial’s pointer is between two numbers, write down the decrease quantity, and if the pointer is immediately over a quantity, write down that quantity and underline it.

Any numbers that you just’ve underlined, verify the following dial to the precise.

If you happen to’ve underlined a quantity, verify the following dial to the precise. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, you’ll want to cut back the quantity you’ve underlined by 1.

How do I take a fuel meter studying?

Studying a fuel meter is just like studying an electrical meter.

When you have a digital metric meter, write down the primary 5 numbers proven from left to proper, ignoring any after the decimal level.

When you have a digital imperial meter, you’ll want to write down the primary 4 numbers from left to proper, ignoring the remainder proven in crimson.

To learn a fuel dial meter, you’ll want to learn the primary 4 dials from left to proper, ignoring any massive or crimson dials.

Like an electrical dial meter, if the pointer is between two numbers, write down the decrease quantity and if the pointer is immediately over a quantity, write down that quantity.

Why ought to I take a meter studying earlier than October 1?

MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis has instructed folks to take meter readings quickly, with a view to keep away from paying the next invoice earlier than October 1.

He stated: ‘Meter studying day’s coming – don’t panic, not everybody should do it, and it needn’t be on the day.

‘With costs rising for many on October 1, until you’ve a working good or prepayment meter, it’s helpful to feed in an up to date meter studying round that date to keep away from discrepancies over what you used earlier than or after costs rose.’

He additionally provided some recommendation in his weekly publication, warning folks to not inflate their meter readings now as it could be fraud.

‘We get requested this one lots – are you able to submit an inflated meter studying forward of a worth improve, so extra of your utilization is charged on the decrease charge?’ he stated.

‘The brief reply isn’t any, you shouldn’t do that – it’s fraud.’

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