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How to read your smart electricity meter

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You don’t normally need to read your smart meter. Smart meters normally send readings to your supplier automatically - this is known as ‘smart mode’. You can check if your meter’s working in smart mode.

You might need to read your smart meter in some situations, for example if:

  • you’ve just switched supplier - you normally need to send the first meter reading yourself

  • you switch supplier and they say they can’t connect to your meter - this can happen if you’ve got an older smart meter

  • you want to check your meter reading - for example, to see how it’s changed recently

Call your supplier to give them the reading - or check if you can submit one on their website or app.

If you can’t get to your meter, your energy supplier might be able to give you extra help to read or move your meter. You can check if you can get extra help from your energy supplier.

 

Check your meter - not your smart energy monitor

When you get a smart meter installed, you'll also normally get a small portable device with a screen on it. This is called a ‘smart energy monitor’ or an ‘in-home display’ (IHD) - it either plugs into a socket or runs on batteries. 

It can be easy to confuse your smart meter with your IHD.

You can check how to use the IHD for your smart meter.

Example

An example in-home display (IHD).

You might be able to take a reading from the IHD but it’s best to take one from the meter itself. The meter will be fixed to a wall or board - it’s usually somewhere like a kitchen cupboard or a box on a wall outside your home.

Example

An example smart meter. 

 

Reading your smart electricity meter

The way you take a reading from a smart electricity meter depends on the type of meter you have.

 

If your meter has a keypad

Example

If the number on the display is 0012565.3, the meter reading is 12565.

The way to read your meter depends on if you pay:

  • a single rate at all times

  • 2 rates - one rate during the day and a cheaper rate at night

Most people pay a single rate at all times. If you have an ‘Economy 7’ meter, you pay 2 rates. If you’re not sure, check your bill to see if you pay 2 rates.

 

If you pay a single rate

To read the meter:

  1. Press 9

  2. Wait until you see the letters ‘IMP KWH’

  3. You’ll then see numbers followed by ‘KWH’ - this is your reading

  4. Write down the numbers from left to right

  5. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

Close

 

If you pay 2 rates

To read the meter:

  1. Press 6

  2. Wait until you see ‘IMP R01’ followed by numbers - this is usually your night or ‘off-peak’ reading

  3. Press 6 again until you see ‘IMP R02’ followed by numbers - this is usually your day or ‘peak’ reading

  4. Write down the numbers from left to right

  5. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

If you're not sure which is the day rate or the night rate, check the numbers in the morning and check again later that day. The number that’s changed will be your day or ‘peak’ rate.

Close

 

If your meter has A and B buttons under the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 0011256.3, the meter reading is 11256.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the A button

  2. Press the A button again until you see ‘TOTAL ACT IMPORT’ and numbers followed by ‘KWH’

  3. Write down the number from left to right

  4. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

 

If your meter has a green A button to the right of the screen and a white B button below it

Example

If the number on the display is 0011256.3, the meter reading is 11256.

The way to read your meter depends on if you pay:

  • a single rate at all times

  • 2 rates - one rate during the day and a cheaper rate at night

Most people pay a single rate at all times. If you have an ‘Economy 7’ meter, you pay 2 rates. If you’re not sure, check your bill to see if you pay 2 rates.

 

If you pay a single rate

To read the meter:

  1. Press the white B button - the screen will light up

  2. Wait until the screen says ‘meter boost’ - press 'A' to select 'no' and you should see numbers followed by ‘KWH’

  3. Write down the numbers from left to right

  4. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

Close

 

If you pay 2 rates

To read the meter:

  1. Press the green A button

  2. Press the green A button again until you see ‘Rate 01 Act Imp’ - this is usually your night or ‘off-peak’ reading

  3. Press the green button again until you see ‘Rate 02 Act Imp’ - this is usually your day or ‘peak’ reading

  4. Write down the numbers from left to right

  5. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

If you're not sure which is the day rate or the night rate, check the numbers in the morning and check again later that day. The number that’s changed will be your day or ‘peak’ rate.

Close

 

If your meter has 3 buttons to the right of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 0011256.3, the meter reading is 11256.

The way to read your meter depends on if you pay:

  • a single rate at all times

  • 2 rates - one rate during the day and a cheaper rate at night

Most people pay a single rate at all times. If you have an ‘Economy 7’ meter, you pay 2 rates. If you’re not sure, check your bill to see if you pay 2 rates.

 

If you pay a single rate

To read the meter:

  1. Press the middle button

  2. Write down the number below ‘IMP’ from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

Close

 

If you pay 2 rates

To read the meter:

  1. Press the middle button - it should say ‘R1’

  2. Write down the number below ‘IMP’ from left to right - this is usually your night or ‘off-peak’ reading

  3. Press the middle button again - it should say ‘R2’

  4. Write down the number below ‘IMP’ from left to right - this is usually your day or ‘peak’ reading

  5. Press the middle button again - it should say ‘T’

  6. Write down the number below ‘IMP’ from left to right - this is your ‘total’ reading

  7. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning of numbers and any numbers after the decimal point. You’ll only need the ‘total’ reading if your supplier asks for it

If you're not sure which is the day rate or the night rate, check the numbers in the morning and check again later that day. The number that’s changed will be your day or ‘peak’ rate.

Close

 

If you have 1 orange button and 2 blue buttons

Example

If the number on the display is 12565, the meter reading is 12565.

These meters have a row of numbers followed by KWH.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the orange button to the left of the screen

  2. Write down the numbers from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If you have a meter with two white buttons to the right of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 0011256.3, the meter reading is 11256.

Your meter should have ‘Kaifa MA 120’ printed on it. It will automatically change between four different screens, so you don’t need to press anything.

To read the meter:

  1. Wait for the screen that shows numbers followed by KWH

  2. Write down the numbers from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has 2 buttons to the right of the screen and one says ‘reconnect’

Example

If the number on the display is 0023541.2, the meter reading is 23541.

Your meter will have one button which says ‘reconnect’ and another button which says ‘display’ or ‘display select’.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the ‘display’ or ‘display select’ button

  2. Press the ‘display’ or ‘display select’ button again until you see numbers followed by KWH

  3. Write down the number from left to right

  4. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after a decimal point if you have one

 

If your meter has a green A button and grey B button to the right of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 00256, the meter reading is 256.

To read the meter:

  1. Look at the screen - you don’t need to press any buttons

  2. Write down the number next to ‘KWH’ from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has 2 yellow square buttons to the left of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 0011256.3, the meter reading is 11256.

The way to read your meter depends on if you pay:

  • a single rate at all times

  • 2 rates - one rate during the day and a cheaper rate at night

Most people pay a single rate at all times. If you have an ‘Economy 7’ meter, you pay 2 rates. If you’re not sure, check your bill to see if you pay 2 rates.

 

If you pay a single rate or If you pay 2 rates

 

If your meter has 1 blue button and 1 orange button to the right of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 0011256.3, the meter reading is 11256.

The way to read your meter depends on if you pay:

  • a single rate at all times

  • 2 rates - one rate during the day and a cheaper rate at night

Most people pay a single rate at all times. If you have an ‘Economy 7’ meter, you pay 2 rates. If you’re not sure, check your bill to see if you pay 2 rates.

If you pay a single rate

To read your meter:

  1. Press the blue button labelled ‘A’ to turn on the display light

  2. Press the blue button again until you see ‘Total active import kWh’

  3. Write down the numbers from left to right

  4. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after a decimal point if there is one

Close

 

If you pay 2 rates

To read your meter:

  1. Press the blue button labelled ‘A’ to turn on the display light

  2. Press the blue button again until you see ‘TOU Rate 1’

  3. Write down the numbers from left to right

  4. Press the blue button once more to see ‘TOU Rate 2’

  5. Write down the numbers from left to right

  6. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after a decimal point if there is one

If you're not sure which is the day rate or the night rate, check the numbers in the morning and check again later that day. The number that’s changed will be your day or ‘peak’ rate.

​

How to read your smart gas meter

This advice applies to England. See advice for See advice forNorthern Ireland, See advice forScotland, See advice forWales

You don’t normally need to read your smart meter. Smart meters normally send readings to your supplier automatically - this is known as ‘smart mode’. You can check if your meter’s working in smart mode.

You might need to read your smart meter in some situations, for example if:

  • you’ve just switched supplier - you normally need to send the first meter reading yourself


  • you switch supplier and they say they can’t connect to your meter - this can happen if you’ve got an older smart meter


  • you want to check your meter reading - for example, to see how it’s changed recently


Call your supplier to give them the reading - or check if you can submit one on their website or app.

If you can’t get to your meter, your energy supplier might be able to give you extra help to read or move your meter. You can check if you can get extra help from your energy supplier.

 

Check your meter - not your smart energy monitor

When you get a smart meter installed, you'll also normally get a small and portable device with a screen on it. This is called a ‘smart energy monitor’ or an ‘in-home display’ (IHD) - it either plugs into a socket or runs on batteries.

It can be easy to confuse your smart meter with your IHD.

You can check how to use the IHD for your smart meter.

Example

An example in-home display (IHD).

You might be able to take a reading from the IHD but it’s best to take one from the meter itself. The meter will be fixed to a wall or board - it’s usually somewhere like a kitchen cupboard or a box on a wall outside your home.

Example

An example smart meter. 

 

Reading your smart gas meter

The way you take a reading from a smart gas meter depends on the type of meter you have.

 

If your meter has A and B buttons under the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 0000256.3, the meter reading is 256.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the A button

  2. Press the A button again until you see ‘METER INDEX’ and numbers followed by ‘M3’

  3. Write down the number from left to right

  4. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

 

If your meter has 3 square red buttons

Example

If the number on the display is 000135.658, the meter reading is 135.

The 3 red buttons on your meter might say ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the left button - it might say ‘A’

  2. Write down the number from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has a circle button and two arrow buttons

Example

If the number on the display is 00063.236, the meter reading is 63.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the middle circle button

  2. Write down the number from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has a keypad

Example

If the number on the display is 00063.5, the meter reading is 63.

To read the meter:

  1. Press 9 - you’ll see ‘VOLUME’ on the screen

  2. Wait until it changes - you’ll see numbers followed by ‘M3’

  3. Write down the number from left to right

  4. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has orange and blue arrow buttons

Example

If the number on the display is 000135.658, the meter reading is 135.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the orange button once or more until you see a number followed by‘M3’

  2. Write down the number from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has two white buttons to the right of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 000135.658, the meter reading is 135.

Your meter should have ‘EDMI’ printed on it.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the right button - it might be labelled 'OK' or have an arrow on it

  2. Write down the number from left to right

  3. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point if there is one

 

If your meter has a button to the left and right of the screen

Example

If the number on the display is 12345.678, the meter reading is.12345.

Your meter should have ‘G4’ and ‘GWi’ printed on it.

To read the meter:

  1. Press the button on the right of the screen to wake your meter

  2. Press the same button once or more until you see a number followed by ‘M3’

  3. There might be a number such as 01 or 02 on the left of the screen - ignore this number, it’s not part of the reading

  4. Write down the number from left to right

  5. Ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point

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