How to take a meter reading
Taking a meter reading helps keep your bills accurate and ensures you’re only charged for the energy you actually use. Your meter reading is a snapshot of your gas or electricity usage and can be easily submitted through your Homebox account.
Why meter readings matter
Suppliers estimate your energy use if you don’t provide readings. This can lead to bills being higher or lower than expected. Regular readings mean your account stays on track and your payments reflect your real usage.
How to read your meter
There are several types of meters. Here’s how to identify and read yours.
🔌 Electricity meters
1. Digital meter (single rate)
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You’ll see a row of numbers (usually 5 digits, sometimes followed by decimals).
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Write down the first 5 numbers from left to right.
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Ignore any numbers after a decimal point or in red.
Example:
If your meter shows 04567.8, record 04567.
2. Economy 7 (two rate)
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You’ll see two rows labelled something like “Low” / “Night” and “Normal” / “Day”.
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Record both readings.
Example:
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Low: 03456
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Normal: 06789
3. Smart meters
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Press the main button to wake the screen (sometimes labelled “A” or “Display”).
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Your reading will appear as a 5-digit number.
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If you have a dual-rate tariff, scroll to see both readings.
🔥 Gas meters
1. Digital meter (metric – m³)
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Read the first 5 numbers before any decimal point or red numbers.
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Example: 12345.678 → record 12345
2. Imperial meter (ft³)
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Read the first 4 black numbers on the left.
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Ignore any red numbers.
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Example: 4567 (ignore .890 in red)
3. Smart gas meters
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Press “A” to wake the screen.
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Your reading will appear as a number ending in m³ — record the digits before the decimal point.
⚡ Warning: Always check that you’re submitting the correct reading for the right fuel type (electricity or gas), as mixing up the two can lead to errors in your bill.
If you're not sure on how to take a meter reading, we've included some useful links below on how to do this.
How to read your gas or electricity meter