How to read your electric and gas meters

There are three kinds of meter: digital, electronic and dial meters. This is how to read them.

Electricity digital meter 

Here's a typical digital meter display:

Write down numbers from left to right, ignoring any numbers in red or in a red surround.

If your tariff gives you lower-priced off-peak electricity like ECO20:20 or Economy 7 your meter may have two rows of figures as shown below:

If your meter has more than one row of figures write down all the numbers from left to right in each row, ignoring any numbers in red or in a red surround. The previous meter readings on your bill will indicate which is 'day rate' and which is 'night rate'.

Electricity electronic meter

Here's a typical electronic meter display.

Some electronic meters have a cycle display button that you press to take readings and some automatically scroll through the various displays. As with a meter with two rows of figures, write down all the numbers from left to right in each display, ignoring any numbers in red or in a red surround. The previous readings on your bill will indicate which is 'day rate' and which is 'night rate'.

Electricity dial meter

Here's a typical electricity dial meter:

Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it. Before you read your dial meter, check the direction of your dials. They may not be exactly as those illustrated above. Every dial on every meter revolves from 0-1 and on through to 9 before continuing to 0 again.

To read correctly:

• Read the dials from left to right
• If the pointer is between the two numbers, always take the lower number
• If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that one
• If the pointer falls between 9 and 0, write down 9 and reduce the reading you've already taken for the dial on it's left by one. For example, if you originally recorded 5, reduce it to 4
• Don't read the last dial on the right

In this example shown the dial meter reading shows as 44928

We're here to help

Meter readings

You can send us a meter reading or call us on 0800 015 1736(1).  Altermatively you can log in to MyAccount and submit a meter reading here.

Sending your meter readings to us

You can post your meter reading cards to us at FREEPOST: EDF ENERGY - PLYMOUTH.

Need more help reading your electricity meter? 

There are lots of different electricity meters in use. If you need help reading yours, call us free on 0800 096 9000(1).  Minicom for customers with hearing difficulties , please call 0800 096 2929(1).

Please have your account number ready before calling us. You’ll find this on any letter or bill that we’ve sent you. It starts with ‘67’.

There are two types of gas meter: dial and digital. This is how to read them.

Gas dial meter

Here's a typical gas dial meter:

To read correctly:

• Read the dials from left to right
• If the pointer is between two numbers, always take the lower number
• If the pointer falls between 9 and 0, write down 9
• Ignore red dials, ones marked '100 per rev' and the largest dial

So in this example, the dial meter reading will be 6653.

Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it. Before you read your dial meter, check the direction of your dials. They may not be exactly as those illustrated above. Every dial on every meter revolves from 0-1 and on through to 9 before continuing to 0 again.

Gas digital meter

Here's a typical gas digital meter:

To read correctly:

• Read the numbers from left to right, ignoring any numbers shown in red
• Ignore any digits in a red surround
• Ignore any printed zeros
• Ignore any digits after the decimal point

So in this example, the digital meter reading will be 75193

We're here to help
Meter readings

You can send us a meter reading or call us on 0800 015 1736(1). Altermatively you can log in to MyAccount and submit a meter reading here.

Sending your meter readings to us

You can post your meter reading cards to us at  FREEPOST: EDF ENERGY - PLYMOUTH.

Need more help reading your gas meter? 

There are lots of different gas meters in use. If you need help reading yours, call us free on 0800 096 9000(1). Minicom for customers with hearing difficulties, please call 0800 096 2929(1).

Please have your account number ready before calling us. You’ll find this on any letter or bill that we’ve sent you. It starts with ‘67’.