Millions of households are being encouraged to submit a meter reading on March 31, ahead of the new energy price cap.
With energy bills due to rise by an average of 54% on Friday, April 1, households are being encouraged to take - and submit - a gas and electricity meter reading the day before.
By doing so, you can ensure all energy used up until that date is charged on the cheaper rate - the current energy price cap.
Those that do not submit a reading risk some of their energy being charged on the new higher unit price which is around £693 more expensive a year.
Justina Miltienyte, head of policy at Uswitch.com, told The Mirror: “Energy prices going up can be worrying for many — but consumers can still take simple steps before 1st April to take control of their energy use.
“It is recommended that anyone who does not have a smart meter should take a meter reading on March 31st and submit it to their supplier.
“This gives your supplier proof of how much energy was used before 1st April, when the new rates come into effect, and will ensure your bills are accurate.
“You could leave it until later in the afternoon or evening to submit your reading, to ensure as much of your energy use as possible from 31st March is calculated under the old rates.
“While there is nothing you can do to reduce the actual cost of energy, regularly submitting meter readings to your supplier is a good habit to get into, as it can help to ensure you are only paying for the amount of energy you are using.”
Consumer expert Martin Lewis is encouraging people to do the same, to “draw a line” in terms of their usage.
It comes after the money champion U-turned after telling prepayment customers that they could delay the price cap by buying energy in advance.
You can submit a meter reading online or via your supplier's smartphone app. You can also submit your latest usage over the phone by calling your provider's customer services. Some suppliers will have automated options for this.
If you have a smart meter, readings are usually supplied automatically once a month - but it's worth checking that a reading will be done on or in the run up to March 31.
If, for whatever reason, you have a problem trying to submit your readings, take photos on the day that clearly show them and the meter serial numbers.
On April 1, the cap will rise by around 54%, meaning the average dual-fuel household will be paying £1,971 a year to heat and light their home. That’s £693 more than it is right now.
This is based on typical usage though – so use more and your bills will rise even further, and vice versa.
Homes using a prepay meter, which are typically more vulnerable, will on average face a steeper hike of £708 and an annual bill of £2,017.
To put this into perspective, British Gas customers on its capped tariffs will pay 28p-30p per kWh for electricity from April 1.
There will be a 45p-51p daily standing charge for electricity, and 27p-37p for gas.
The supplier will join almost all energy giants in raising its tariffs by the full £693.
From April 1, a British Gas dual-fuel customer paying by direct debit will pay £262 a year in standing charges alone, or £318 if they have a prepayment meter. And that is before they have consumed a single unit.
Those who pay by direct debit will pay the least. Customers paying by cash or cheque on receipt of their bill, or because who have a prepayment meter, will be charged more.
Only those on long-term fixed tariffs signed with a supplier that has not failed will avoid the rises. But of course, millions of these are likely to end in the coming months.
That could just be the start. Wholesale gas prices rose 28% on Thursday’s news that Russian forces had invaded Ukraine.
If those are sustained, Ofgem will have to substantially increase prices again when they it reviews the cap for the autumn.
