Meter reading week: 9 need-to-knows

Why it's worth considering giving a meter reading

If, like about 60% of households, you're on a standard variable tariff, the price you pay is controlled by the energy Price Cap, which rose by 13% on average in July and is rising by another 3.6% on 1 October. These hikes are largely driven by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

To make sure there are no discrepancies in the amount you're charged on the new higher rate, it's a good idea to give a meter reading to your supplier on or around 1 October. This stops your supplier from estimating your usage, and potentially assuming you've used more at the new higher rate than you actually have.

There will be winners and losers here – as some will gain and others lose against what their supplier would have estimated – but if you do a meter reading, you know it's fair.

If you're on a fixed tariff, your rates are locked until your tariff ends, so you shouldn't need to give a meter reading (though it's a good idea to do it regularly to make sure your Direct Debit is right).

If you have working smart meters, you don't need to do anything

If you have smart meters that are working properly in smart mode, so they're regularly sending meter readings to your provider, there's no need to do anything, as they do it automatically.

You may want to double-check your meters are sending reads, though. You can usually see this in your account or on your bill. You can also take a photo of your meters on the day, so you have the readings for safety.

If you don't have smart meters, it's a good idea to give meter readings, but it doesn't have to be on 1 October

Giving a meter reading means your supplier will know exactly how much you used when prices change, so you're fairly charged.

Yet if all of us rush to do this on the same day, it can lead to suppliers' websites crashing and phone lines becoming jammed, which can affect vulnerable people (as we saw in March 2022).

To avoid that, you can give a reading a few days before or after and any discrepancy should be minor. Or, some firms let you backdate your reading, so if you take the actual meter reading on the day, note it down, but then submit it at a later date.

How to give a meter reading

The easiest way is to take a picture of your meters, so you have the readings to hand. Then you can log in to your online account and enter the readings.

Most also let you send readings via text message, or through mobile apps such as WhatsApp. You can also call them up – most have automated telephone lines where you can give the readings, to save you joining a queue or clogging up the lines for those who need help.

Some ask: 'Can I give a higher meter reading now, so I'm charged for more use at the current higher rate?'

No, that'd be fraud. We get asked this one a lot – can you submit a higher meter reading ahead of a price ruse, so more of your usage is charged at the current lower rate?

The short answer is no, you shouldn't do this – it's fraud.

On a (non-smart) traditional electricity prepayment meter? Top up as much as you can before 1 October to delay paying the new higher rates

With most prepayment meters – both smart meters and all gas meters – you pay the rate on the day you use energy. Yet with many non-smart, prepay electricity meters, you pay the rate on the day you top up.

If you can, top up as much as you can before 1 October to delay triggering the new higher rates.

Check your Direct Debit is right under October's Price Cap rates

If you're on a price-capped standard tariff – and about 60% in England, Scotland and Wales are – then you should check if your Direct Debit amount is along the right lines based on the new October rates.

If you're heavily in credit, then before asking your supplier to lower the Direct Debit, try to get back a chunk of the amount you've overpaid. Though remember, you should have a decent amount of credit on your account at this time of year.

See your Price Cap unit rates and standing charges from 1 October

The Price Cap sets a limit on the rates and standing charges you pay. For a full region-by-region breakdown of the rates you'll pay from 1 October, see our Energy Price Cap rates guide.

The table below shows the average unit rates per kilowatt hour (kWh) and standing charges per day (these vary by region) under the new Price Cap from 1 October to 30 December 2026.

You can fix now up to 4% less than October's Price Cap

With the Price Cap set to rise by 3.6% due to the conflict in the Middle East – and predicted to rise by much more in January – it could be worth fixing now.

You can use our Cheap Energy Club to ensure you're on the cheapest deal possible, based on where you live and how much energy you use.

You can undercut the Price Cap with EDF Energy's Simply Tracker tariff which also tracks the Price Cap, with a fixed discount on standing charges – good for lower energy users – meaning everyone who joins this tariff on dual-fuel will save £50 (£25 for single-fuel) over the next 12 months.

Existing Octopus customers could consider its Octopus Tracker tariff (if you're not already with Octopus, you can try switching to its standard variable tariff, then switch to this). Its rates change daily based on wholesale costs though, and while they' often been a bit under the Price Cap, recently they've been creeping over it.

Alternatively, Octopus' electricity-only Agile tariff has rates that change half-hourly, based on wholesale prices – good for those who can shift their electricity use out of peak hours.

If you're still on the Price Cap, our Cheap Energy Club comparison will give you a bespoke prediction of what it'll cost you over the next year, so you can compare that with fixing.