Households should check with their energy supplier for the best way to submit their meter readings as they are urged to take note of them before prices rise on October 1.
The energy cap for average household bills will rise from £1,971 to a frozen £2,500 on Saturday October 1. To avoid being overcharged for use - or charged at the more expensive rate for energy used under the current cap - bill payers should take their meter readings on September 30, before the prices rise.
The Government’s plan only caps the cost per unit that households pay, with actual bills still determined by how much energy is consumed.
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In April, energy firms websites crashed as so many attempted to submit readings at the same time. To avoid this, Industry body Energy UK advises households to check with their supplier about the best way to submit readings.
Suppliers offered numerous channels including text, email, apps and online account submissions, but these varied.
Frazer Scott, chief executive of Energy Action Scotland, said: “This week, every household across the UK must make sure it submits a meter reading to their energy firm to avoid paying a penny more than they absolutely have to when prices go up on October 1.
“Fuel poverty is at record levels, levels of energy efficiency improvements are simply too low to provide respite and financial support is just a sticking plaster on the deepest of wounds.
“As unit costs for electricity and gas push bills higher still in October, communities will suffer and take years to recover. Meanwhile the impact of fuel poverty will be felt on the NHS and social care system and lives will be needlessly lost.”
Friday September 30 is being dubbed 'meter-reading day' as it is the final day of the current price cap. Taking your reading late on Friday means it should be accurate for the amount of energy used under the current cap.
When should I take a meter reading before October 2022?
Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert website's advice states : "It's a good idea to give a meter reading to your supplier on or around meter reading day on Friday 30 September. This stops your supplier from estimating your usage, and potentially assuming you've used more at the higher rate than you actually have."
Some utility companies say customers can take readings on Friday but submit them later. British Gas is offering a two-week window allowing customers to submit readings taken on September 30 until October 14.
Households will receive a non-repayable £400 payment from the Government as part of the cost-of-living support package, paid directly to energy accounts over six months in instalments of £66 and £67.
Research by comparison site Uswitch suggests a fifth of households (20%) will only be able to cope with rising bills this winter by cutting back their usage.
Another three million households – more than one in 10 homes (11%) – will not be able to cope with rising bills whatever they do, the poll indicates.
Some 53% of households plan to turn appliances off at the wall to cut costs, while 46% plan to turn the thermostat down and 35% say they will reduce the number of times they use their oven.
Nearly one in three billpayers (32%) are also planning to push back the day they usually turn on their heating and 37% will only heat certain rooms in their home.
Ben Gallizzi, energy spokesman at Uswitch.com, said: “Energy bills are still due to rise in October despite the Government support, and we know that many people are feeling anxious about the winter ahead.
“Keeping on top of your home energy consumption will be especially important during the coldest months when the heating comes on.”
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