How to read my business energy meter
Your business energy meter should be easy to read... get a little help with our visual guide
In this article
Business electricity meters
Business gas meters
Business electricity meters
Single rate digital meter
How to read this meter
- Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros.
- Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Watch our video on How to read a single rate meter
Single rate 6 digital meter
How to read this meter
- Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros.
- Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Two rate/Economy 7 meter
How to read this meter
If you have an Economy 7 meter, you may be charged a lower rate for electricity used in off-peak hours. Read your contract to see if this applies for you, but if it does your meter should have two rows of numbers. The top row (marked 'LOW' or 'NIGHT') shows how many units of off-peak electricity you've used. The bottom row (marked 'NORMAL' or 'DAY') shows how many units of peak electricity you've used. Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Watch our video on How to read a two rate dual display meter
Electronic meter
How to read this meter
Your electronic meter may show just one or multiple screens. You'll need to scroll through to find your reading. Different electronic meters go through the information in different orders. Letters or numbers will come up on the display to show which rate the reading is for. For example:
- R1 or R2
- 1 or 2
- L or N
- Low or Normal
For all electronic meters:
- Ignore the red button
- Press the blue button to change the screen display to show what you want
- Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red
Dial meter
How to read this meter
- Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it, so check which way each turns
- Read the five dials from left to right, ignoring the dial marked 1/10
- Write down the number that the pointer has just passed it must be the lower of the two numbers either side of the pointer. If the pointer is between 9 and 0, write down 9
- If the pointer is exactly on a number and the following dial reads '9', you need to take one away from the number
Watch our video on How to read a dial meter
Wattless meter
How to read this meter
A wattless meter differs from a normal single rate meter in that it records in units kVArh. Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Smart electricity meters
Take a look at our dedicated page on how business electricity smart meters work.
Business gas meter
Gas digital imperial meter
How to read this meter
Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Watch our video on How to read a single rate meter
5-digit electronic meter
How to read this meter
Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Gas digital metric meter
How to read this meter
Write down all the numbers from left to right, including any zeros. Ignore any numbers after the decimal point or which may be shown in red.
Watch our video on How to read a two rate dual display meter
Dial meter
How to read this meter
- Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it, so check which way each turns
- Read the four dials from left to right along the bottom row only ignore any others
- Write down the number closest to each pointer
- When the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number. If the pointer is between 9 and 0, write down 9
- If the pointer is exactly on a number and the following dial reads '9', you need to take one away from the number
Smart gas meters
Take a look at our dedicated page on how business gas smart meters work.