Electricity

There are many different meters available, so if yours does not look like any of the meters below or you are having difficulty understanding your meter, please call us on 0800 300 400 so we can talk it through with you.

Electricity is measured in kilowatts per hour (kWh). If your meter has an odometer-type dial like the one above, simply read the numbers from left to right i.e. 16847

• Record your meter numbers starting from the left
• Read to the 1 units
• Don't read any digits marked in red or after a decimal point or comma
• Don't read the 0.1 or 1/10 unit

Reading a dial meter is similar to reading a clock. Each dial has 10 numbers and a pointer. The pointer turns only when the energy is being used.

The meter above reads 6982.

• Record the numbers as indicated by the pointer on the dial.
• If the pointer is between two numbers, record the smaller number. The only exception is if the pointer is between 0 and 9, then the number recorded is 9.
• If the pointer appears to be directly on a number, check the dial immediately to the right. If the pointer on the right hand dial has reached or passed zero then the higher number can be recorded. If the dial to the right has not passed zero, record the smaller number from the dial on the left.

Reading your own meter can help you monitor your monthly energy use. After they are read each month, meters are not reset to zero as the readings are cumulative. If the meter shown above read 6482 a month earlier, you would have used 500kWh during the month.