What is a meter reading and why are they important?
A meter reading shows how much gas or electricity you’ve actually used. Submitting readings regularly helps make sure your bills are accurate and up to date.
What a meter reading is
A meter reading is a number displayed on your gas or electricity meter that shows the total amount of energy your home has used so far.
Your supplier uses this number to work out your energy usage between two readings and calculate your bill correctly.
Each time you take a reading, it tells your supplier where your usage stands now compared to the last reading.
Why meter readings matter
Without regular meter readings, your supplier has to estimate your usage based on past data. This can make your bills too high or too low.
Providing actual readings ensures:
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Your bills reflect what you’ve really used
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You avoid large “catch-up” bills later
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Your account balance stays accurate
⚡ Tip: Submitting readings monthly helps Homebox manage your payments and supplier accounts smoothly.
Smart meters vs manual readings
If you have a smart meter, readings are sent automatically to your supplier, so you don’t need to do anything.
If you have a traditional meter, you’ll need to take readings yourself and submit them through your Homebox Dashboard.
📘 Note: You can check whether you have a smart or traditional meter by looking for a digital screen that updates automatically — that’s a smart meter.
When to provide readings
We recommend sending readings:
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Once a month
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When you move in or out of your home
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Whenever Homebox requests them to update your account
This ensures your supplier bills are always up to date and accurate.