Today, September 30, is Meter Reading Day, and it will be the last day the UK public will be able to take a reading before the higher Energy Price Guarantee - also known as the energy price cap - comes into effect on Saturday, October 1.
The price cap raises the amount suppliers can charge their customers on their default tariffs, potentially raising the average home's energy bills by thousands.
The good news is you can simply make a note of your meter reading for now, but it will be essential to submit before October 14 ahead of the first increased payment.
For those with smart meter readings, they are taken automatically, so you won’t have to submit anything to your energy supplier.
There are different types of meters, with each energy supplier offering their own service to submit a reading online or over the phone.
With the cost of living crisis, many Brits are preparing themselves for a difficult winter ahead. Here is how you can submit a meter reading.
How to submit a meter reading
All you will need to hand is the number on either your electric or gas meters.
Have this to hand either before September 30, or mark the number down on that date.
All the main energy suppliers in the UK offer online and phone services for their customers to submit a meter reading.
Be it British Gas, Scottish Power, Ovo Energy, SSE, or any of the others.
The pages to submit meter readings for main suppliers are as follows:
Through the online services, you will need to log into your account and head over to the 'submit a reading yourself' pages.
Alternatively, if you are submitting a reading for someone else, there is typically a separate form to fill in.
You will need your account number and personal details when logging and submitting your details.
Energy suppliers also offer an alternative method to submit a reading over the phone.
Simply find the contact number for your supplier and follow the step-by-step guide on how to supply it.
Why is it important to read your meter now?
On Meter Reading Day, it can be extremely difficult to get hold of your energy supplier as demand skyrockets.
Expect phonelines to be jammed and the websites to slow down or crash due to so many people rushing to get their reading submitted.
Meter Reading Day is today, Friday, September 30. The good news is you don’t have to submit anything on this day.
Simply make a note of your reading for now and wait for the lines to be less jammed and the websites to clear up.
Most energy sites offer a threshold period of up to two weeks to submit after the date, as long as the reading comes from the set date.
It is essential you check with your own supplier to confirm how long you have to do this though.
Alternatively, get ahead of the game and submit it earlier to you can avoid the stress later.
What is the new energy price cap from October 1?
The last time the price cap was raised was on April 1, when a unit of electricity was capped at 28p per kWh and the daily standing charge was stopped at 45p.
A unit of gas was charged at a maximum of 7p per kWh, while the daily standing charge couldn't exceed 27p.
From October 1 until December 31, electricity will go up to 52p per kWh and the daily standing charge to 46p.
A unit of gas will now cost up to 15p per kWh - double what it was - while the daily standing charge will soar to 28p.
The energy cap will be raised again on January 1 2023 under Ofgem's new plans to review price cap levels every three months, instead of every six months.
The energy watchdog says this allows for "better reflection of current gas and electricity costs, allowing energy suppliers to better manage their risks, making for a more secure market helping to keep costs down for everyone".
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