MILLIONS of households have to submit their electricity meter readings today to avoid paying more than necessary per tltheir energy.
Today (July 9) is the last day for EDF customers to submit their meter readings to ensure their bill is accurate following the change to the energy price cap.
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Energy bills fell by an average of £122 a year on July 1 when the price cap was cut from £1,690 a year to £1,568 – the lowest level in two years.
However, if customers do not provide meter readings, they will be issued with an estimated bill, on the basis of which they would be charged more energy than they actually used.
This is because the supplier may base some of your usage on a previous price cap that was higher than the current one.
EDF has confirmed that July 9 will be the last day for its 5.2 million customers to send back a reading to ensure they receive an accurate bill.
Readings can be submitted through the EDF app, online or by phone, email, text or WhatsApp.
If you have a smart meter, you don’t need to take a reading as it’s automatically sent to your supplier, but it’s still sensible to check that it’s accurately reporting your consumption.
There is also no need to submit meter readings if you are on a fixed energy tariff or have a traditional prepaid meter.
Energy costs have spiraled in recent years and many homeowners are struggling.
However, there was positive news in May when energy regulator Ofgem announced a reduction in the price cap following a quarterly review.
Despite bills falling, it’s important to remember that the energy price cap changes every three months, so there’s a chance monthly bills could rise again in the future.
The price cap is also still significantly higher than it was this time in 2021, before the energy crisis hit.
When the price cap changes, it’s important to check every three months to make sure you’re not being overpaid or even underpaid, which could leave you owing money later.
The time frame for sending readings varies from supplier to supplier, and some companies will allow you to take back readings even if you miss the date they were intended to be sent.
However, this may not always be the case, so it’s worth checking with your energy supplier’s customer service.
Here is the data you need to submit data for other suppliers:
EDF
EDF customers have until the end of today (July 9) to send backdated readings.
They can do so through their online accounts, WhatsApp, SMS or a form on the supplier’s website.
British gas
British Gas customers can submit their meter readings any time before 14 July.
Customers can do so on their online account, through the British Gas app, over the phone or via a form which can be found on the company’s website.
You can call British Gas on 0330 100 0056 Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
Energy Ovo
Households with Ovo Energy have until July 11 to submit their meter readings.
Customers can do so through their online accounts, the app or by calling 0330 303 5063, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Octopus energy
Octopus Energy had customers submit meter readings until the end of July 8, but is now no longer accepting them.
Generally, meter readings can be submitted via online accounts, website form, app or email.
E.On Next
E.On Next was also accepting back meter readings until July 8.
Scottish power
Scottish Power customers had until July 5 to submit their readings.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we will tell you how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To work out how much you’ll pay for your energy bill, you need to find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the fixed charge for each type of fuel.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your vp/kWh bill. The fixed charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days a year – regardless of whether you use gas or electricity.
You will then need to note your own annual energy consumption from the previous bill.
Once you have this information, you can calculate your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your consumption in kWh by the unit rate vp/kWh for the corresponding fuel type – this gives you your cost of use.
You will then need to multiply each fixed charge by 365 and add that number to your usage total – this will then give you your annual cost.
Divide that number by 12 and you can determine how much you should expect to pay each month starting April 1st.
How can I take a meter reading?
If you don’t have a smart meter, your energy supplier will usually require regular readings from your gas and electricity meters to calculate your bill.
Customers who do not send their suppliers regular readings will be billed based on estimated usage and likely to pay more – so it always pays to know how to send the numbers.
Once you’ve read it, you should be able to send it in a number of ways, including via text or online.
You can also submit them online or through your supplier’s app.
It is best to check with your supplier for options.
It’s always worth taking a picture of the condition of the meter when you hand it over to your supplier – in case you need it as evidence in a future dispute.
How you read depends on the type of meter you have – we’ve explained how to read depending on the type of meter you have.
Electricity meters
If you have a digital meter, you will only see a row of six numbers – five black and one red.
Remove the five black numbers and ignore the red number.
If you’re on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff which gives you cheaper electricity at night – you’ll have two sets of numbers so you subtract both.
If you have a traditional dial, you will need to read the first five dials from left to right and ignore any red ones.
If the pointer is between two numbers, write the lower digit, and if it is between nine and zero, write the digit nine.
If the dial is directly above a number, write that number down and underline it.
If you underlined the number, check the next dial to the right.
If the pointer on the dial is between nine and zero, decrease the number you underlined by one.
For example, if you originally wrote down five, change it to four.
Gas meters
If you have a digital metric meter that shows five numbers and then a decimal place, just write the first five numbers from left to right.
If you have a digital imperial meter, your meter will show four black numbers and two red numbers – note only the four black numbers.
If you have a dial gas meter, follow the same steps as for dial electricity meters, but ignore the underlining of any numbers.
What to do when you are worried
THERE are several different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you’re struggling to make ends meet.
If you fall into debt, you can always contact your supplier to see if they can give you a repayment plan before they put you on the downpayment meter.
This involves paying back what you owe in installments over a set period of time.
If your supplier offers you a payment plan that you don’t think you can afford, talk to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.
Several energy companies have grant schemes available for customers who are struggling to meet their bills.
However, eligibility criteria vary by supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial situation.
For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers who are struggling to pay their energy bills can receive grants worth up to £1,500.
British Gas also offers help through its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.
You do not need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.
EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power also offer grants to struggling customers.
Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protection by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).
The service helps support vulnerable households, such as the elderly or ill, and some of the benefits include early warning of blackouts, free gas safety checks and more support if you’re struggling.
Contact your energy company to see if you can sign up.
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