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Not sure which of the electricity meters it is that you have?
There are currently five types of electricity meters that are being used in the UK. Here is a quick and easy guide to better understand them.
Types of Electricity Meters in the UK
- Standard Meters – This is the most common type of electricity meter in the UK, which typically measures electricity consumption in units of kWh or kilowatt- hours. It records all your gas and electricity usage in a single rate. The meter provides its reading in numbers. You can read this yourself by reading the first five figures in black from left to right. Remember not to include any red numbers.
- Economy 7 Electricity Meters – If you are on Economy 7 Tariff, you will need a specialised meter that provides two readings: one for the electricity usage during the day and the other for usage in the evening, when charges are cheaper. The readings for usages during the day will be displayed as “normal” on the meter, and the usages in the evening will be displayed as “low”. For digital Economy 7 meters, “rate 1” is the cheaper usage made in the evening, and “rate 2” are the charges made during the day.
- Prepayment Meters – With a prepayment meter, you make the payment first before you can use any electricity (or gas). You can top up an electricity key (or a gas card) based on how much energy you will use. You can add credits or buy tokens buy going to an outlet. When the credit runs out, the supply of gas or electricity is automatically stopped. Households that have a history of missing their payments for their energy bills may sometimes be asked by their energy provider to use a prepayment meter. A statement will be sent either quarterly or annually to show the history of energy use and payments made.
- Smart Energy Meters – Smart meters directly and remotely send the billing information to the energy provider so there is no more need to rely on manual and estimated meter readings. This will provide 100% accurate readings, and the government is expected to roll it out nationwide between 2016 and 2020.
If you have questions about which of these electricity meters will be most beneficial to you, contact us at RJ Gas today.
