Think You Know Your Electricity or Gas Meters?
There are many different energy meters out there that you may not be familiar with. But don’t worry, we’re here to help. This guide will look at how gas and electricity meters work and then discuss the specific types.
How Do Gas Meters Work?
Gas meters work by measuring the volume of gas that passes through the pipeline.
Your bill is based on the gas you have used in the last billable period. It will show the start and end readings from your meter within that timeframe, the calorific value (CV), and an explanation of the calculation used to get to the kWh.
The start and end readings could be actual readings taken from the meter or estimated readings based on how much your energy supplier thinks you will have used.
The UK is divided into 13 different local distribution zones, with your bill based on your zone’s daily CV during the latest billing period.
How Do Electricity Meters Work?
Electricity meters measure the amount of electric used in a property. The electricity is typically measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), which measures the number of kilowatts you use over time. This is the number that energy companies will use to work out how much energy you have consumed and what your bill will be.
Dial Meters
How Does a Dial Meter Work?
Dial meters display your consumption through 5-6 dials on the meter which rotate (increasing the meter reading) as your consumption increases.
Some energy suppliers will accept your meter readings as often as monthly so you can see exactly how much energy you use.
How To Read a Dial Meter
Dial meters can appear complicated to read but are quite simple if you follow the instructions below. One thing to remember is that the each of the dials move in opposite directions. It’s important to note the direction of your dials before you read them.
- First, read the first 5 dials from left to right. Make sure to ignore any red dials or dials marked 1/10.
- If the pointer is between two numbers, you always record the lower number (e.g. if it points between 8 and 9 you would pick 8).
- If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and highlight it.
If you’ve highlighted a number, check the next dial to the right. If that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you’ve highlighted by 1 (e.g. if it was originally at 5, it is now 4).
Digital Meters
How Does a Digital Meter Work?
Similar to dial meters, some mechanical digital meters have an internal mechanism that rotates when measuring the amount of electricity being used but instead of the dials being displayed, they generate a numeric meter reading based on your energy consumption.
Another type of digital meter has a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). There is still an internal mechanism that measures the amount of electricity being used but the main difference is that they display the reading on a small digital screen.
How To Read a Digital Meter
These meters are very simple to read. Figures are displayed to you in a panel or on a small digital screen. You take your reading from left to right by simply recording these figures, ignoring any numbers after the decimal point or in red.
Smart Meters
How Does a Smart Meter Work?
Smart meters are the newest form of energy meters and are being introduced to replace the older ‘traditional’ and prepayment meters.
Your energy supplier can tell you whether your home is suitable for a smart meter. It’s their responsibility to install the equipment safely, which includes the meter, digital display, and communications hub. After that, your hub sends information to your supplier using the mobile phone network, so they will accurately bill you for what you use.
People often worry that others can steal their electricity by ‘hacking’ their smart meter, but in reality, smart meters are very safe and can be really useful for keeping track of your spending and reducing the amount of wasted energy.
How To Read a Smart Meter
These meters have a digital display screen which shows the meter reading generated from the recording of your electricity usage. Most, also have a stand alone ‘in-home’ display unit that allows you to monitor your usage throughout the day and see how much money you’ve spent on energy, helping you keep track of your spending and avoiding nasty surprises when the bills come in.
Prepayment Meters
How Does a Prepayment Meter Work?
The traditional prepayment meters are sometimes called ‘token meters’, ‘key-card meters’ or ‘Pay as you go (PAYG) meters’ and are operated by buying a token or topping up a card to insert in the meter. The meter then allows the amount of energy you have paid for to pass through the meter. Once you have used the amount you have paid for, the flow of energy stops. Newer prepayment meters let you pay for your gas and electricity in advance through an app on your phone or by text.
If someone often struggles to pay their energy bills, or if they are in debt with their supplier, they may be put on a prepayment meter to help budget for the amount of energy they can afford to use.
The price per unit of energy on these meters is usually more expensive, so you should think very carefully before choosing this option or moving into a property with a prepayment meter already installed. Most suppliers will offer other payment schemes to allow you to budget your usage without having to have a prepayment meter unless you are paying back a debt.
Read our article the pros and cons of prepayment meters here.
How To Read a Prepayment Meter
If you need to check how much credit you have left, the method for doing this varies on the type of prepayment meter you have.
Some prepayment meters require you to insert your key in the meter and press the blue button. This will allow you to change between the available screens, showing you the credit you have left and the readings for your energy usage.
Other meters require you to simply press the red button to cycle through the screens, find out what your remaining credit is and to see the readings for your energy usage.
Off-Peak Meters
How Does an Off-Peak Meter Work?
Off-peak meters work by providing you with a cheaper cost per unit of energy during off-peak times (specific times and durations will vary between suppliers and location).
This is a great way of making your energy bills more affordable, especially in the lead up to winter.
How To Get an Off-Peak Meter
To get an off-peak meter, you will need to contact your supplier and see if one is available for you and whether it would be beneficial based on your usage pattern. Some suppliers charge much higher rates for energy used at peak times and a much lower rate for off-peak usage.
Where To Find Your Meter?
The location of your meter varies from property to property. A general rule is that meters are located where energy will enter the property.
In some homes, the location of the meter will be outside in a meter box. If the meter is inside your home, you’re likely to find it mounted on a wall, in a garage, utility/laundry room, under the stairs or in a cabinet in the kitchen.
If you live in a block of flats, there’s a chance that all of the meters are located in one place e.g., a shared utility room or understairs cupboard.
If you can’t locate your meter, then you should contact your landlord or letting agent.
How To Report Energy Theft
You can report energy theft using our online form or call the Stay Energy Safe reporting line on 0800 023 2777 and speak directly to one of the Stay Energy Safe team. Both options enable you to remain 100% anonymously.
Further Information About How Gas Meters Work:
Older gas meters measure the volume in units of 100 cubic feet (ft3) and newer meters in cubic metres (m3).
This volume measurement is multiplied by the calorific value (CV) of the gas to calculate the heat value or heating rate.
The CV is typically a fixed value, provided by the Gas Network Operator for your area, to your energy supply company. It is then used in the calculation to convert the recorded volume from the meter into the heat units you have used, and this is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh).
The temperature around your meter can also influences the value of your gas bill. This is because gas expands with the heat and shrinks with the cold, so when it’s warmer it registers more volume travelling through the meter and increases the bill. Many energy suppliers run off the assumption that the temperature around your meter is 15ºC when charging you, but if your meter is outside, your bills could be lower from the colder weather. Although, it’s important to note that this does not impact residential properties, it’s only important for commercial properties that use massive amounts of gas.
Another factor that impacts your bills is altitude. This is because higher altitudes increase the pressure of your gas, so the closer your home is to sea level, the cheaper. The average height used by gas companies is around 67.5 metres above sea level. Once again, this only is important to consider for commercial properties that use massive amounts of gas.