Every home needs a supply of energy for the occupants, and every householder will have a gas or electricity meter. A gas meter will tell you how much gas you have consumed, and your electricity meter is the instrument that gives you a reading in relation to how much electricity your household has consumed.
How Does a Prepayment Meter Work?
Some properties may be fitted with a prepayment meter, which requires the householder to top up before they can access the gas and electricity supply. In days gone by the householder had to go to a shop to top up the card, but now energy companies have made it simpler by using technology and enabling remote top-ups via a website or app. In Northern Ireland, the majority of people prefer to use a pre-paid meter for electricity and gas. Sixty-five per cent of gas customers and forty-three per cent of electricity customers top up their meters. Prepaying means you can easily keep track of your energy usage and you can manage your household bills more effectively.
What to Do If You Find a Fault in Your Meter
Some meter boxes will develop faults, and the key to discovering this is an unusual or unexpected reading. If you suspect the meter is faulty, you can try switching off all your appliances and closely monitor the figures to gauge any discrepancy. Gas and electricity suppliers are legally obliged to make sure all the meters are accurate. Householders who suspect a fault should first contact their supplier to enable it to carry out an investigation.
If your gas meter box has become worn or damaged, there are a variety of options enabling you to replace the unit. An external metal meter cupboard is one option, and it gives the householder a simple and cost-effective solution. They are ideal for private dwellings, public buildings or business units, and they can be obtained from https://www.meterbox.co.uk/.
If you are lucky enough to have a smart meter, you will be more aware of your energy usage as the figures are always to hand via the in-home display. By March 2020, almost 20 million smart meters had been fitted in homes in Britain.
Finally, if you are a keen budgeter, you should check that you’re on the tariff for the cheapest deal relating to your gas and electricity consumption.
How a smart meter records your usage
A smart meter is a digital version of the familiar meter that records how much energy your home uses and sends those readings straight to your supplier. That removes the need for manual readings or a visit from someone to check the dial. Most come with a small in-home display showing your usage, its cost and an estimated bill in close to real time.
Because bills are based on actual readings rather than estimates, you are less likely to overpay or underpay. Seeing your consumption as it happens also makes it easier to spot patterns and cut back, which helps lower both costs and your carbon footprint.
Installation is usually free and arranged by your supplier. A qualified installer swaps the old meter for the new one, normally within a couple of hours and with little disruption. Some rural homes can struggle with signal, which affects how readings are sent, and the radio emissions are well within safety guidelines, similar to a Wi-Fi router or mobile phone.
Signs your meter may be faulty
Unexpectedly high bills can sometimes point to a faulty meter, and if you rent, let your landlord know, as fixing it is your energy supplier’s responsibility. A faulty prepayment meter is easy to spot: the screen goes blank or shows a message such as error, battery or call help. The supplier should then repair it within three hours on a working day, or four at weekends and on bank holidays.
With a credit meter, switch off all your appliances and check whether the numbers keep moving. If they do, the meter is probably faulty, and with gas, act straight away in case there is a leak. Check the outdoor meter box too, in case vandalism is to blame.
Your supplier may ask you to take readings for seven days before testing. The test is free if the meter is faulty, but you pay if it is not. Electricity meters are tested at home, while gas meters are taken away and a replacement fitted. If the meter is faulty, you are entitled to a replacement, a refund of overpayments and compensation.