MILLIONS of households should take gas and electricity meter readings before bills rise in October.
The average household will see their bills climb from October 1 and taking a reading before then could see you charged less.
Prime Minister Liz Truss has frozen energy bills for two years as part of a package of cost of living support.
But the new Energy Price Guarantee means the average household's yearly energy bill will rise to £2,500 from £1,971 currently.
However, that doesn't mean that's the maximum you'll pay – you could pay more or less depending on how much energy you use.
That's because the guarantee only limits the amount firms can charge customers for each unit of energy.
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Uswitch even issued a warning after its research found nearly two in five households think the Energy Price Guarantee completely stops bills from going over £2,500.
The new cap only affects those on standard variable tariffs, but that still works out as 22 million households.
That's why it's crucial you take a gas and electricity meter reading before October 1 as it will reduce the risk of you being overcharged when the new cap comes into force.
The reason you need to take regular readings is so your supplier can work out how much you owe.
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If you don't, they'll estimate your usage and you could end up being charged more than you should have been.
You don't have to take your meter reading on September 30, it can be before that date.
The last time the price cap went up, a range of energy suppliers websites' crashed due to the sheer number of people on them trying to submit readings at the same time.
How do you take a meter reading?
In most cases you'll be able to call your supplier to give them the readings, and in others you might be able to submit them online or on an app.
Electricity meters
If you have a digital electricity or gas meter, you see a row of six numbers on the display dashboard – five in black and one in red.
You will need to note down the five numbers in black and ignore the red number.
If you are on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, which means you get cheaper electricity throughout the night, you may see two rows of numbers.
You should take both down.
If you have a traditional dial meter, you will have to read the first five dials from left to right and ignore any red ones.
If the pointer is between two numbers, you will need to write down the lower number. If it's between nine and zero, write down nine.
If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it.
Citizens Advice says that if you’ve underlined a number, check the next dial to the right. If the pointer on that dial is between 9 and 0, reduce the number you’ve underlined by 1. For example, if you originally wrote down 5, change it to 4.
Gas meters
If you have a digital metric meter showing five numbers then a decimal place, you only need to write down the first five number from left to right.
If you have a digital imperial meter your meter will read four black numbers and two red numbers – note down the four black numbers only.
If you have a dial gas meter follow the same steps for those with a dial electricity meter but ignore underlining any figures.
What other energy bill help can I get?
From October 1, millions of households will start receiving a £400 energy rebate.
The payment will be made to your energy supplier who will then deduct it from your bill.
Households will receive a £66 discount in October and November, and a £67 one every month from December to March.
Millions of pensioners who usually get the Winter Fuel Allowance will receive £300 on top from November.
Some households are set to get a £150 Warm Home Discount between December and March 2023 as well.
You might also be able to get an energy grant from your supplier.
British Gas is offering one, as well as Bulb Energy, EDF, E.on, Octopus Energy, Ovo Energy and Scottish Power.
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You can also get free debt advice from:
- Money Helper – 0800 138 7777
- Citizens Advice – 0808 800 9060
- StepChange – 0800 138 1111
- National Debtline – 0808 808 4000
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