Martin Lewis warns you must take an energy meter reading NOW to avoid paying higher bills within days

MONEY-saving expert Martin Lewis has urged households to take energy meter readings now ahead of a crucial date.

Bills are set to fall by over £400 from July 1 for those on a typical dual-fuel tariff.

It will come as the new price cap, set by Ofgem, takes over from the Government's energy price guarantee.

The cap sets a maximum limit on what suppliers can charge customers per unit of electricity and gas.

The change means the average household will go from paying £2,500 a year for their energy to £2,074 from July 1.

That said, you might pay more or less depending on your usage.

Financial wizz Martin Lewis has already urged households with prepayment meters to run down their allowance to near empty until July 1, then top up soon after to ensure they are paying the lower rate.

Now, he is encouraging households paying by direct debit to take a meter reading to ensure they aren't overcharged.

An updated meter reading will mean your supplier has a more accurate idea of your usage and bill you accurately.

Martin tweeted earlier today: "Submitting a reading within a few days of the change (many let you backdate a few days too) reduces the risk of their 'estimating' going against you (though there's always a chance a discrepancy could end up in your favour)."

Martin also urged households to take a photo of their meter reading in case they can't submit it to their provider on the same day.

In September, customers were left furious after having to queue to get into energy suppliers' websites as they struggled to cope with demand.

How to take an energy meter reading

Energy suppliers usually require you to take regular meter readings from your gas and electricity meter to work out how much they should charge you.

Customers that don't do this have their bills calculated by an estimated usage and will likely pay more.

So it's definitely worth figuring out how to take a meter reading to ensure you're not overcharged.

Electricity meters

If you've got a digital electricity or gas meter, you should see a row of six numbers - five in black and one in red.

Take down all the five black numbers and ignore the red one.

If you are on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, which charges you two different rates depending on the time of day, there may be two rows of numbers. You should take them both down.

Meanwhile, if you have a traditional dial meter you will need to read the first five dials from left to right, ignoring any red ones.

If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower figures. If it is between nine and zero write down the number nine.

If the dial is directly over a number, write down that number and underline it.

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 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.

How else can I slash the cost of my energy bills?

There's a whole host of extra support you can get with your energy bills.

First, the Government is dishing out three cost of living payments to millions of households.

The first is worth £900 and has been split into three instalments. The first £301 has already been paid out.

The £300 and £299 instalments are due in autumn and spring 2024 respectively.

You qualify for the payments if you receive the following benefits:

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

Two further payments worth £150 and £150-£300 are being made by the Government.

Millions of people with disabilities should currently be in the process of receiving the £150 payment.

You are eligible for this payment if you receive the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

And the £150-£300 payment will be made to millions of pensioners from November.

The grant will be made to all those eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment this year, which you qualify for if you were born before September 25, 1957.

In some cases, you might qualify for all three cost of living payments, which means you could receive £1,350 in free money.

If you don't qualify for any of the cost of living payments you might be eligible for help via the Household Support Fund.

The fund is a central pot of money worth £842million which has been shared between local councils in England.

They then decide how to distribute their share of the pot, and who to, although in most cases help is offered to people on a low income or benefits.

You should contact your local council to find out what you might be in line for.

If you don't know what council area you fall under, you can use the Government's council locator tool on its website.

You just have to type in your postcode.

Plus, there are a number of energy firms that offer customers help if they are struggling with their bills.

This includes British Gas, EDF, E.On and Scottish Power.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

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