Reading your gas meter

It’s important to make accurate measurements of your gas consumption so you don’t pay more than you need to. Your supplier will often use estimates of what they think you’ve used unless you prove otherwise. Knowing how much you actually use, rather than the estimate your supplier uses for each bill, will also help you decide whether you can get a better rate by switching.

Unless you have a prepayment meter, your supplier will estimate how much gas you are consuming and use this figure in your monthly or quarterly bill. This will either be based on past use or, if you have recently moved, typical or average figures.

You’ll need to check that you aren’t paying more or less than you should for your gas. Your supplier’s estimate won’t take into account any effort you’ve made to save energy and which your own meter reading could demonstrate. On the other hand, changes in routine could mean you’re using more gas than you normally do. You could be stung the next time the supplier comes to take a meter reading. Both situations are avoided if you phone to give a correct meter reading each time you receive a bill that uses estimated meter readings.

There are four main types of meters: standard meters, dial meters, digital meters and prepayment meters. They differ in how they display the information and what readings they give you. Standard, digital and dial are three ways to show you a basic meter reading. You’ll need a different sort of meter for prepayment gas meters.

This is the most common type of meter and uses a mechanical display to show your readings. You’ll need to take a reading of five black numbers from left to right – ignoring any red numbers (if present).

Dial meters – which look like small traditional clocks - are slightly more complex. When reading your dial meter, always remember that dials next to each other go round in opposite directions.

Read the numbers on the dials from left to right, ignoring the last red dial (if it is present), or any dials without figures or hands. If the needle is between two figures, write down the figure the dial has just passed. The reading now needs adjusting to make allowances for any small variations in the pointer positions. If the figure is directly over the figure, say 5, write down that figure and underline it. Look at the figure underlined. If one of those numbers in the sequence is followed by a 9, reduce the underlined figure by 1 (so the underlined ‘5’ becomes ‘4’).

Use the first five figures on the digital display, and ignore any last figure that begins 0.1. You may need to press a button to get the figure to display.

There are several types of prepayment meters including standard or electronic display and digital meters. Based on any calculations you make about the amount you are paying, you can change energy suppliers, but this service is not available with uSwitch.com at the present time. Prepayment customers will be able to use uSwitch.com in the near future.

Once you have your reading check your last bill and see what the estimated reading was. If it looks like you have been overpaying, you are entitled to a refund from your gas company. If you have been underpaying contact your supplier to increase your Direct Debit payments or pay it off in one go if it is a small amount. Once you’ve paid off what you owe, you can search for a cheaper supplier.

The suppliers often have a dedicated phoneline you can use to provide your own meter readings. This number should appear clearly on your bill. Some companies will automatically send you a fresh bill based on your reading, others may ask whether you want a fresh bill.

If your meter reading seems wrong, you might want to supplier an altered reading, or contact your supplier to let them know there could be something wrong with your meter.