How to read your meter and work out your electricity bill (UK)
Estimated bills are often wrong. Learn to read your electricity meter, submit the reading and turn two readings into a rough cost, using Citizens Advice guidance for England.
If your supplier does not have a recent reading, it guesses how much energy you used, and a guess can be too high or too low. A meter reading takes a minute and makes your bill match reality. This guide is for England and follows the Citizens Advice instructions.
Check before you rely on this: the Citizens Advice page has no publication date (the footer says 2026) and describes England. The page does not give prices or explain how a bill is calculated, so the cost method in the last section is a general method, not a quote from that page. Prices change: use the unit rate and standing charge on your own bill.
Why your reading matters
Citizens Advice explains that your supplier needs regular readings to work out your bills. Without them, it estimates your usage. You can give a reading by phone or through the supplier's website or app. If you cannot reach the meter, your supplier may offer extra help.
Digital meters
- Single-rate digital: write down the first five numbers and ignore the rest.
- Two-rate digital: there are two rows. The top row is low or night rate, the bottom row is normal or day rate. Record both and ignore red digits.
- Two-rate with one display: the screen cycles through both rates, or you press a button to switch. The label "N" means normal, not night. If you are unsure which is which, note the readings, check again later in the day, and the one that changed is the normal rate.
Dial meters
Read the first five dials and ignore any red dials and 1/10 dials. If a pointer sits between two numbers, record the lower one (9 if it is between 9 and 0). If a pointer is exactly on a number, record it, but reduce it by 1 if the next dial's pointer is between 9 and 0.
Smart meters
Smart meters are different: they normally send readings to your supplier automatically, and you usually get an in-home display. Citizens Advice has separate guides for reading smart meters.
A rough cost from two readings (general method)
- Take a reading today and write the date.
- Subtract the earlier reading to get the units used in between. If you have a two-rate meter, do this for each rate.
- Multiply the units by the unit rate on your bill, then add the standing charge for the same number of days.
Example with made-up numbers: if a meter went from 12,000 to 12,300 units, you used 300 units. At a rate of 0.25 per unit that is 75, plus the standing charge for those days. Use your real rates. If the result looks high, see what to check when your electric bill is high and which appliances use the most electricity.
Sources I read
Pages I read to write this article. Always check the latest version before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my supplier need meter readings?
Citizens Advice says your supplier needs regular readings to work out your bills. If you do not send readings, the supplier estimates your usage, and an estimate can be too high or too low.
Do smart meters need manual readings?
Citizens Advice says smart meters normally send readings to your supplier automatically, and you usually get an in-home display showing your spending.
What is the difference between a single-rate and a two-rate meter?
A single-rate digital meter shows one reading. A two-rate meter shows two: the top row is the low or night rate and the bottom row is the normal or day rate. Record both and ignore the red digits.
Where do I find my unit price?
On your bill or in your supplier's account. The Citizens Advice page I read does not list prices, so this article does not quote any.
If the number is higher than you expected, here is what to check.