BILL CHECK
Exact date millions of customers at UK’s biggest energy supplier must take meter readings – or risk overpaying
Plus, we've listed the deadlines for other big suppliers
MILLIONS of customers at the UK's biggest energy suppliers must take a meter reading soon or risk overpaying their bill.
British Gas customers have just 12 days left to submit a meter reading to ensure that their energy bill is accurate after prices fell on Monday.
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Ofgem's energy price cap dropped from £1,928 a year to £1,690 a year for a typical household on April 1.
A statement on the supplier's website says: "The energy price cap rates have gone down from April 1.
"You can still submit the readings you took on April 1 any time before April 14 and we'll make sure we use them in your next bill.
"You don't need to submit any readings if you have a fixed tariff, smart meter or pay as you go meter."
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British Gas customers can submit a meter reading online by visiting www.britishgas.co.uk/help-and-support/submit-meter-read.
Households must do this around the time that any new price caps come into force to ensure they're not overcharged.
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 who don't do this are billed on estimated usage and will likely pay more.
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So it's definitely worth figuring out how to take a meter reading to ensure you're not overcharged.
You'll need to read your numbers if you don't have a smart meter.
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But those with smart meters don't need to send a manual reading because they're sent to suppliers automatically.
Other suppliers have different timelines and deadline for submitting meter readings.
For example, Ovo Energy says that customers can enter a reading from up to 10 days after the present date to ensure they're billed as accurately as possible.
Octopus Energy and E.ON Next will backdate meter readings after April 1 by one week.
EDF Energy customers have until April 7 to submit an up-to-date reading and Scottish Power have until April 5 to ensure their latest bill accurately reflects the the new price cap rates.
How do I calculate my energy bill?
BELOW we reveal how you can calculate your own energy bill.
To calculate how much you pay for your energy bill, you must find out your unit rate for gas and electricity and the standing charge for each fuel type.
The unit rate will usually be shown on your bill in p/kWh.The standing charge is a daily charge that is paid 365 days of the year - irrespective of whether or not you use any gas or electricity.
You will then need to note down your own annual energy usage from a previous bill.
Once you have these details, you can work out your gas and electricity costs separately.
Multiply your usage in kWh by the unit rate cost in p/kWh for the corresponding fuel type - this will give you your usage costs.
You'll then need to multiply each standing charge by 365 and add this figure to the totals for your usage - this will then give you your annual costs.
Divide this figure by 12, and you'll be able to determine how much you should expect to pay each month from April 1.
How do 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 don't send their suppliers regular readings will have their bills calculated by estimated usage, and they will likely pay more - so it is always worth knowing how to send the numbers.
Once you've taken a reading, you should be able to submit it in a number of ways, including text message or online.
You might also be able to submit it online or through your supplier's app.
It's best to check with your supplier to see your options.
It's always worth taking a picture of your meter reading when you submit it to your supplier - just in case you need it as evidence in a future dispute.
The way you take a meter reading depends on the type of meter you have - we've explained how to take a reading depending on your meter type.
Electricity meters
If you have a digital electricity meter, you will see a row of six numbers—five in black and one in red.
Take down the five numbers in black and ignore the red number.
If you are on an Economy 7 or 10 tariff, which gives you cheaper electricity at night - you will have two rows of numbers, so take both readings down.
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, and 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 nine and zero, reduce the number you've underlined by one.
For example, if you originally wrote down five, change it to four.
Gas meters
If you have a digital metric meter showing five numbers and then a decimal place, you only need to write down the first five numbers from left to right.
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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 as those for those with a dial electricity meter, but ignore underlining any figures.
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