How to read your gas meter

Your gas meter measures volume, not energy. Newer metric meters record cubic metres (m³); older imperial meters record hundreds of cubic feet (ft³). Your supplier converts that volume into kilowatt hours (kWh) before applying your tariff.

Reading a metric gas meter

Read the numbers from left to right. Submit the digits before the decimal point and leave out anything after it. If the last digits are red, leave those out too.

Reading an imperial gas meter

An imperial meter is normally labelled ft³ or “cubic feet”. On an odometer-style display, enter the main black digits and ignore red digits or digits after a decimal point. Select imperial in the calculator so the extra conversion is applied.

Each whole displayed imperial unit represents 100 cubic feet. For example, main digits 0123 give a reading of 123; do not multiply the reading yourself before entering it.

Reading a smart gas meter

A smart meter still has a physical reading, even if it normally sends readings automatically. Wake the display using its button, then cycle through the screens until you see Meter Index, Meter Reading or a number followed by m³. The exact button sequence varies, so use the instructions printed on the meter or your supplier’s guide.

Reading a dial meter

1. Read only the dials required by your supplier, from left to right.
2. If a pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number. If it sits between 9 and 0, use 9.
3. Ignore red dials and any marked “100 per rev”.
4. If a pointer appears exactly on a number, check the dial to its right. If that dial has not passed zero, reduce the number by one.

Where is the meter?

Reference: Government guidance on gas meter readings and bill calculation.

Common places include an outside meter box, a cupboard near the front door, under the stairs or a communal meter room. In a shared area, match the serial number on the meter to the meter number on your bill before taking a reading.