The ultimate guide to reading your meter, whatever kind you have

Why do I have to give meter readings?

If you’ve got a traditional analogue energy meter (not a smart one), you’ll need to send in regular meter readings so we can work out how much energy you’re using. Smart meters remove the need for meter readings (they send readings to us automatically - register your interest in a smart meter and we'll be in touch when engineers are available in your area) but there are a handful of situations where you might still need to take a manual meter reading from your smart meter.

If you're on one of our export tariffs, you'll have to provide 'export readings' from your SMETS1 or SMETS2 meter (not your generation meter, or your In-Home Display) so we can calculate your export payments. Below, in our guides to taking readings from SMETS1 and SMETS2 meters, we'll also explain how to take export readings from a range of different meters. If you're meter isn't included on the list, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Electricity and gas meters come in several different shapes and sizes, so before we can tell you how to read your meter, it’s important to work out which type of meter you have.

What kind of meter do I have?

Traditional (non-smart) meters

All households had meters like this up until a few years ago, when smart meters began being installed.

If your meter haven't been changed since before 2017, and either has dials or an analogue meter display with 4-6 black and white (and some red) numbers, you have traditional meters.

Here's how to take readings from traditional analogue meters

Smart meters

There are two different generations of smart meters – SMETS1, the earlier version, and SMETS2, the latest version.

How to tell what kind of meter you have

If you're already with us, you can head to your online account dashboard. In the section that contains information about your meters, click 'how to read my meter', which will take you to the correct section of this blog.

To be 100% sure which kind of meter you have, the best way to find out exactly which type (and brand) of smart meter you have is to contact the energy supplier that installed it. If that was us, don’t hesitate to get in touch!

We installed Secure™ branded smart meters up until 2018, they have 'Secure' logos on the front. (Secure™ also supplied meters to Utilita, Shell, OVO, E.ON and Bristol Energy - so if you have a first generation SMETS1 smart meter from them and it’s a Secure™ meter, this section is for you too!)

Find out how to read your Octopus-installed Secure™ brand first generation (SMETS1) smart meter

Find out how to read your non-Octopus first generation (SMETS1) smart meter

Find out how to read your second generation (SMETS2) smart meter

If you're still unsure, the easiest thing to do is get in touch!

How to read a traditional analogue meter

Electricity Meters

Digital single meter

Looks like this:

How to read:

Write down the five numbers as they appear. Ignore the red one.

Digital dual meter

Looks like this:

This is for those of you on two energy rates for different times of the day. The cheaper one is on top.

How to read:

Write down the five numbers as they appear, ignoring the red ones.

Digital dual meter (single display)

Looks like this:

Some dual meters have a single display where you might have to press a button to view each rate.

How to read:

1. Write down the numbers as they appear.
2. Press the button to see the next reading, then write that down too.

Dial meter

Looks like this:

Here you’ll see five dials, each with numbers 0 to 9. There may be a sixth dial on the right, sometimes in red, or with 1/10 next to it – ignore this.

How to read:

1. Write down the numbers the pointer has just passed, from left to right.
2. If the pointer lies exactly on any number, underline it (in the above example, you would underline the 4).
3. Now, look at your five numbers. For any that are underlined, look at the number following it – if it’s between 9 and 0, reduce your underlined number by one. The above example would therefore be 1 3 9 7 0.

Gas

Like electricity, there are a few different types of gas meter, but they’re all fairly simple to read.

Digital imperial meter

Looks like this:

How to read:

Write down the first four numbers as they appear. Ignore the red ones.

Digital metric meter

Looks like this:

How to read:

Write down the first five numbers as they appear – ignore the numbers after the decimal point (sometimes in red).

Dial meter

Looks like this:

There might be more than four dials, you only need to read the bottom four.

How to read:

Write down the numbers closest to the pointer, as they appear. If it’s between numbers, put the lower number, but if it’s between 9 and 0, write 9.

How to read a first generation (SMETS1) Octopus installed Secure™ Smart Meter

To take a manual meter reading on a standard electricity tariff:

1. Press 6 on the keypad.
2. You'll see the letters “IMP R01” appear on the screen.
3. Wait a moment – then eight digits will appear, followed by “kWh” towards the bottom right of the screen.
4. Take the first 7 digits – this is your reading.

To take a meter reading on an Economy 7 electricity tariff:

1. Press 6 on the keypad four times.
2. Wait a moment – your day/peak and night/ off-peak readings will show up on the screen one after the other, starting with off-peak.
3. For your off-peak reading, you'll see “IMP R01” onscreen. A second later, you'll see your meter reading: eight digits, with “kWh” towards the bottom right of the screen.
4. For your peak reading you'll see “IMP R02”. A second later, you'll see eight digits, with “kWh” towards the bottom right of the screen. You'll only need to take the first 7 digits when taking each of these readings (i.e. nothing after the decimal place).

For a smart gas meter, do the following:

1. Press 9 on the keypad.
2. The word “VOLUME” will show on the screen.
3. Your gas reading, in cubic metres (m3) will appear.
4. Take the first five digits as your reading.

To take an export reading from a Secure SMETS1 smart meter do the following:

1. Press 9 on the keypad. 
2. The words "EXP kWh" will appear on the screen.
3. Your reading will appear in kWh.
4. Take the first 7 digits – this is your reading.

To take an export reading from a Secure SMETS1 smart meter with 2-rates (including Economy 7):

1. Press 9 on the keypad until you see 'EXP kWh'
2. Your reading will appear in kWh.
3. Take the first 7 digits – this is your reading.

How to read a first generation (SMETS1) non-Octopus smart meter

At Octopus Energy, we can automatically read all second generation (SMETS2) and we can also read Secure™ branded first generation (SMETS1) smart meters. But if you switched to Octopus with a different brand of (SMETS1) meter, your meter will no longer be smart (and we’ll be unable to take automatic readings). This means you’ll currently have to take manual meter readings (although we’re currently working alongside other industry experts to remotely upgrade all first generation meters, so that they become ‘smart’ again!)

For the time being, here's our ultimate guide to taking manual readings from a non-Octopus first generation (SMETS1) smart meter:

Reading your non-octopus SMETS1 smart electricity meter:

Your electricity reading will be a number followed by “KWH”. We don't need the numbers after the decimal place.

If your meter has more than one unit rate (for example, if you're on an Economy 7 tariff), you'll have to take a reading for each rate. The two readings will appear one after the other — generally followed by “R1” and “R2” (Rate 1 and Rate 2). There is no set rule as to which one is your peak rate reading and which is your offpeak. Your meter might have a sticky label indicating which is which, though.

After R1 and R2, a third reading might appear onscreen — “T”. This is the total of your peak and offpeak readings combined. You don't need to give us this one.

If your meter has A and B buttons:

1. Press the A button.
2. Keep on pressing this until you get to “TOTAL ACT IMPORT”.
3. The number shown below this is your meter reading.

If your meter has a green A and a white B button:

1. Press and hold the green A button for at least 2 seconds.
2. Press A again and again to cycle through the displays.
3. The first row of numbers you'll see is your meter reading.

If your meter has three unmarked buttons:

1. Press the middle button.
2. The number shown below “IMP” is your meter reading.

If your meter has an orange button and a blue button:

1. Press the orange button.
2. You'll see a row of numbers followed by “KWH”, this is your reading.

*If your meter has two buttons marked Reconnect and Display Select:

1. Press the “Display” or “Display Select” button.
2. Keep pressing until it scrolls through a number followed by kWh, this is your reading.

Reading your non-octopus SMETS1 smart gas meter:

Your gas reading will be a number followed by “m3”. We don't need the numbers after the decimal place.

If your meter has A and B buttons only:

1. Press the A button.
2. Keep on pressing this until you get to “METER INDEX”.
3. The number shown below this is your meter reading.

If your meter has three square red buttons (they might be labelled A, B, and C):

1. Press the A (or left) button.
2. You'll see a row of numbers followed by m3, this is your reading.

If your meter has a left arrow, a circle and a right arrow:

1. Press the middle “circle” button.
2. The screen will show “current meter reading” at the top.
3. You'll see a row of numbers followed by m3, this is your reading.

If your meter has orange and blue arrow buttons:

1. Press the orange button.
2. You'll see a row of numbers followed by m3. This is your reading.

How to read a second generation (SMETS2) smart meter

If you're switching to Octopus and already have a second generation (SMETS2) smart meter, we'll soon be able to connect to your meter and take readings automatically, but your very first reading needs to be sent manually.

There are a few different brands of SMETS2 meter – you'll be able to tell what yours is based on the logo on the front.

This guide will tell you how to take a manual meter reading from the most common types of SMETS2 meters. If you aren't sure whether you have a SMETS2 meter, or think you have a SMETS2 meter but can't find it on this list, it's easiest just to get in touch.

How to read your Aclara SMETS2 electricity Meter:

To read your Aclara electricity meter, press 'A' to wake up the screen. After this, continue to press 'A' to cycle through the different options until you see 'Total Active Import'. Once you get to this option, you should be able to see your electricity reading.

To take an export reading from your Aclara SMETS2 electricity meter:

• Press the B button to wake the screen up.
• After the screen lights up, press the B button several times until you see a message that starts with either ‘Total’ or ‘TOU’.
• Press the A button several times until you see ‘Total Active Export’ - this screen will show your export reading in kWh.

To read your Aclara gas meter, press the middle button once to wake up the screen. This should automatically reveal your gas reading.

How to read Landis and Gyr SMETS2 meters:

To read your Landis and Gyr electricity meter, press 'B' to light the screen up. You should be given the option for a meter boost - press 'A' to select 'No', and then you should be able to see your electricity reading.

To take two rate meter readings from your Landis and Gyr SMETS2 electricity meter:

• Press the green A button until you see ‘Rate 01 Act Imp’ – this is your first reading
• Press and hold the grey B button for 5 seconds, and then press the green A button until you see ‘Rate 02 Act Imp’ – this is your second reading.

To take an export reading from your Landis and Gyr SMETS2 electricity meter:

Your Landis + Gyr smart meter will have either:

1. Two equal sized green A and grey B buttons, to the right of the screen
2. A bigger green A button to the right of the screen, and a smaller black B button underneath the screen

If your meter has equal sized A and B buttons:

• Press the A button to get to the screen that says ‘Credit mode bal’.
• Press and hold the A button for around 2 seconds, until the screen shows the time.
• Press the A button several more times to cycle through the meter's screens until you see your ‘Total Act Export’ reading in kWh.

If your meter has a larger green A button and a smaller black B button:

• Press and hold the A button until the time appears. 
• Press the A button several more times to cycle through the meter's screens until you see your ‘Total Act Export’ reading in kWh.

To read your Landis and Gyr Smets2 gas meter, press either 'A' or 'B' to wake up the screen. This should automatically come up with your gas reading.

How to read your EDMI SMETS2 meters:

Your EDMI SMETS2 electricity meter should auto-display your meter reading on the main screen (It will revert back to this screen if you do not press any buttons 1 minute).

To take two rate meter readings from your EDMI SMETS2 electricity meter:

1. Hold OK until it enters the ‘Main Menu’, you will see ‘Billing’ appear
2. Hold OK to enter the ‘Billing’ sub-menu
3. Using the arrows, scroll to ‘Advancd’ (2 pushes of the > button)
4. Hold OK to enter the ‘Advanced’ sub-menu, you will see ‘TOUmtrx’ appear
5. Hold OK to enter the ‘TOUmatrx’ sub-menu, you will see ‘RATE1’ appear
6. Use the arrows to cycle the rates you need to submit (Rate 1, Rate 2, …)

Your EDMI gas meter should auto-display your meter readings. If the screen has gone to sleep, press the button on the right to wake up the meter screen. You should see the words 'Consumption in M³, and a number which is your meter reading. The display will automatically cycle through other screens, but this first one is your reading.

How to read your Kaifa MA120 SMETS2 Electric Meter:

This meter does not require 'waking up' and uses a default auto scroll mode, cycling through its four screens. It will cycle through to the screen with your meter reading on automatically.

To take two rate meter readings from your Kaifa SMETS2 electricity meter:

• Press the top button (K1) to enter the menu system.
• With the arrow next to General Display, press and hold the top button (K1).
• Then press the bottom button (K2) to scroll down to Tariff Matrix. With the arrow next to Tariff Matrix, press and hold the top button (K1).
• With the arrow next to TOU Register, press and hold the top button (K1). T01 shows the total for R1, T02 shows the total for R2. T03 and 4 shows the unused Rate band.

To take an export reading from your Kaifa SMETS2 electricity meter:

• Your meter will automatically switch between 4 different screens - you don’t need to push any buttons.
• Your export reading is on the screen that shows ‘-A value’ in kWh.

How to read your Flonidan G4SZV SMETS2 gas meter:

When reading your Flonidan smart gas meter, your meter reading should be displayed automatically on the default screen. It should be a number preceded by a large 'V' and followed by 'm3' If you have cycled off that screen, you can use the 'left' and 'centre' push buttons beneath the screen to cycle back to it.

How to read your G4 Metrix GWi smart electronic gas meter

1. Press the right-hand side button twice in quick succession to access the manual scroll sequence. 
   
2. Windows '02' displays the meter reading 

How to read your Honeywell/Elster SMETS2 Gas Meter

The reading will be on the screen, if the display has gone to sleep mode, press any button to get the reading which will be shown on the display.

We understand that meter readings can sometimes be a little fiddly, so if you need a hand, don’t hesitate to get in touch!