The Complete Guide to Energy Meters

It’s important to know about energy meters because it helps you determine the kind of energy supplier you’ll choose. This greatly affects the amount of money you pay and what you can save on your energy bills. There are three important components to every energy meter. It is one of each of these three pairings: It’s either gas or electricity, traditional or smart, and credit or prepayment - and a meter can be a combination of either of these three elements. Now, let’s discuss these elements so you can understand more about them.

Gas or Electricity meters

In the UK, most homes have both electricity and gas meters, even if you have chosen a dual fuel energy contract, which means that you get both your gas and electricity from the same energy supplier. In this case, you will still most likely have a separate meter for both gas and electricity.

An electricity meter shows your electricity consumption. It shows the amount of electricity that is being supplied to your home and the amount you are using. That electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours. If you are using less energy and the level of voltage drops - for example, in the case of a power cut where your lights have been dimmed and appliances are not working - the motor in your meter slows down. This indicates that less power is being supplied which means you will also pay less for it.

In the case of gas, it is measured in cubic meter or cubic feet. The amount of gas delivered to your home is measured and the price regarding that is shown in Kilowatt-hours.

Credit meters or prepayment meters

Credit payments tell you the recordings of your energy consumption and then bill you accordingly, so you can’t pay before you have used the energy. Whereas in prepayment deals, you have to pay before you use your gas and electricity. Credit payments also show a record of your energy consumption and the way you have paid and topped up your energy. To get a top up, you can either use a key, a token or a smart card and you can get those top ups at any local Payzone shops.

Prepayment meters, however, are one of the most expensive options on the market. That’s because there are a lot of admin costs involved for UK energy providers which leads to them passing on those costs to the consumer. Another difference is that prepayment plans offer limited deals, so you could get a better and cheaper energy deal in UK if you have a different meter.

Smart meters or traditional meters

A traditional meter is one that is still very commonly used in many homes in the UK. It tends to have a dial at the front of the meter that shows you your energy consumption. Smart meters, on the other hand, are multipurpose. They can show you your energy consumption in real time and then send your readings automatically to your energy supplier.

This helps you efficiently manage your energy and reduce your bills as you can discover your off peak hours and see what appliances cost you the most money, which can further help you make a conscious effort towards reducing your bills. Secondly, since the readings automatically get sent to your supplier, it adds to your convenience as you don’t have to do it yourself.

However, one drawback of the smart electricity meter, is that it uses a mobile network, which is why it cannot be used properly in homes where the signals of the mobile network are poor.

This combination of elements form different kinds of meters. Here are a few examples:

Traditional prepayment meters:

This kind of meter enables you to pay your energy as you use it and allows you to see the records of your energy consumption. However, it doesn’t automatically send your readings to the energy supplier. You will have to use a key or a card which you can top up from a Paypoint outlet and then insert into your meter in order to get your gas and electricity.

Traditional credit meter:

A traditional credit meter lets you see your energy consumption but it does not let you pay upfront. It also doesn’t send the readings automatically to the supplier, which means you have to send your readings to the supplier yourself so they can bill you.

Smart Prepayment meters:

With a smart prepayment meter , energy payment is pretty easy. It lets you pay upfront, records your energy consumption and automatically sends the readings to your supplier. With a bank card, you can also top up your meter without going to a shop. Instead, you can do it online through an app or text.

Smart credit meters:

The smart credit meter does everything a smart prepayment meter does except it does not let you pay upfront. Other than that, it lets you track your energy consumption and automatically sends the reading to the supplier.

Economy 7 and Economy 8 meter

These two meters require a special electricity meter because they are designed to charge you less outside peak hours, meaning you will be charged less at night than you will be in the day. They differ from normal meters because they show two distinct meter readings: One taken during your off-peak hours and then one that shows your peak time usage.

The kind of meter you want depends on your energy needs. It’s important for you to choose the right energy supplier and make a thorough comparison so you can get your hands on the best and the cheapest energy deal on the market. This can greatly help you reduce your bills and help you save money. Comparison sites like Bill-switchers.com can help you achieve that in less than ten seconds. Start comparing now and find out who are the cheapest energy suppliers and what are the best electricity & gas deals in your area!

Can smart meters help you reduce energy bills?

With the winter season upon us, all of us are looking for ways to reduce our energy bills. One useful way to do that is by choosing the right meter. Energy suppliers are installing more and more smart meters and they come with a lot of benefits. However, the real question is whether installing a smart meter is the right move for you. Do smart meters really help you save money? For that, we need to understand what a smart meter really is.

What are smart meters?

Smart meters are a tool that helps you measure the amount of electricity and gas you are using in your home. It also helps you see what your gas & electricity usage is costing you and analyses the performance of your electrical devices.

The reason this meter is called “smart” is because it provides you with a detailed analysis without the help of a technician. It also has a handy in-home display which can help you see your analytics both in real-time or within set time durations.

Smart meters give very accurate readings which means there is minimal room for error, meaning you should be in a good position to save on electricity & gas bills. According to estimates, many homes have already started to make the move to installing smart meters in their homes in order to have efficient records of their energy usage.

The mechanism of a smart meter:

With smart readings, there is no need for estimated billing. What a smart reader does is display your energy usage in the format of a digital reading. It also comes with an in-home screen that helps your energy consumption to be displayed in terms of pounds and pence. This can be done in real-time or in intervals that are pre-determined.

The smart meters also use a secure smart data network through which it automatically sends your readings to your energy supplier. These readings are sent wirelessly, approximately once a month. Since the readings are digital, it helps you receive accurate bills and not estimated prices, which is one way you can save money. This is because estimated bills come with a chance of containing errors that can lead you to pay more than your energy consumption demands.

The pros of using a smart meter:

Smart meters come with a lot of advantages. With the help of smart meters, you can be informed of your energy costs and all related carbon emission data both locally and remotely. When you are informed locally, smart meters use real-time data and when its remotely, historical data is used.

All the energy that is used in water and electrical equipment and household gas is easily displayed on the appliance screen.

When you have all your electricity consumption data and can see the time it costs you the most, you can plan accordingly. Smart meter helps you see what the off-peak hours are so you can increase your energy consumption during those hours and reduce your bills.

It also allows electrical appliances to be controlled automatically and helps in energy management. Furthermore, since the smart meter automatically sends your readings to your energy supplier, you don’t have to constantly remember to send them in. This saves you a lot of hassle.

The cons of using a smart meter:

While smart meters mostly offer benefits, they aren’t without some drawbacks. For example, it could lead to an unhealthy mentality. Since you’re easily able to see how much you're spending with your energy consumption, you may obsess over it by constantly checking it and overthinking before using any kind of appliance.

A first-generation smart meter uses a mobile network to communicate. So, if your house has a weak mobile signal, it can create trouble for your smart meter and hinder it from sending readings to your supplier.

That said, the advantages of a smart meter still seem to far outweigh the disadvantages, and they represent an efficient tool to install in your home that should help you save money and reduce bills.

What does a smart meter look like?

There are two parts to your smart meter. One is the in-home display that you will install inside your home and the other where your traditional gas and electricity meters will be replaced by smart meters. In an in-home display you will be able to see whether your electricity usage is high or low and the display screen also informs you of your energy usage in the past hour, week and month, along with the cost.

Does switching energy suppliers have an effect on smart meters?

If you are concerned that you have to buy a new smart meter every time you switch energy suppliers, you needn’t worry. If you have a SMETS1 meter , you would only have to send your readings right after you change supplier. However, this is only temporary and it doesn’t affect your switch. On the other hand, if you have a SMETS2 meter, then you should be able to easily switch your energy supplier without your energy supply, readings or payments getting interrupted.

How to get your hands on a smart meter?

Your energy supplier is responsible for installing your smart meter and your in-home display. However, the time it would take for you to get one depends on the type of home you live in, your location and the specifications of your existing meter.

Overall, the smart meter is an efficient tool that can help you be more aware of your energy consumption and costs, so you can actively make an effort to reduce them. However, in order to really reduce your bills, a smart meter is not enough. You also have to make sure that you have your hands on the cheapest energy supplier by comparing the UK energy deals.

Which is why at Bill-switchers.com our experts gather all the data and help you choose the best energy deal for you. All you have to do is fill a ten-second form and start saving money now!

What are the white meters?

Have you ever heard of white meter tariffs and how they can help save you money on your energy consumption? Are you confused about why your meter is giving you two different readings and charging you two different energy rates? Or are you thinking about switching to a white meter but don’t know if it’s worth it? If you are faced with any of these situations, then here is a complete guide to white meters and how they can benefit you:

Introduction to White Meters

White meters are part of a new variety of meters that offer different energy tariffs for consumed energy at different times throughout the day. This can lead to huge savings if used properly and sheds new light on consumed energy.

In the UK, white meters are often referred to as Economy 7 meters. They enable you to pay a different tariff for energy used in the day, compared to the energy used in off-peak hours or during the night.

In order to be able to make use of the white meters, a separate meter needs to first be installed at your property. This means that switching back and forth can be difficult and can cost you money. The suitability of white meters depends on your energy consumption, as well as your energy consumption patterns, the times you are more likely to use greater quantities of energy and the property you reside in. This is especially beneficial in the harsh winter seasons where heating costs skyrocket.

How is it charged?

The white meter consists of two different meters. These meters show your normal consumption reading and your reading for energy consumed at off-peak hours. This means you will have two different energy rates for each of the readings, as well as two different bills and then they will be added together to form your final bill. This will also include any standing charges you may have.

Different companies have variable standing charges and off-peak rates. They may also have different off-peak starting hours. Usually, companies have off-peak hours from 11 pm to 6 am.

Are you on a white meter?

The easiest way to check if you are on a white meter is by going through your energy bills. If you have two different energy readings and supply units, it means that you are likely using a white meter or an Economy 7 meter. You can also contact your energy supplier and ask them to provide confirmation on the kind of meter you are using.

Usually, white meters have a meter point access number that starts with “02”, so you can also look for your MPAN to determine whether or not you are on a white meter.

How do you switch from a white meter?

There are added costs involved with the installation of a white meter. That’s because a secondary meter needs to be installed alongside your standard model.

Energy comparison sites like Bill-Switchers.com can help you get an estimate of your total cost without you needing to commit to an installation. By booking a consultation or choosing a tariff for a white meter, our experts help you figure out the best energy deal that you can get, depending on your energy consumption patterns.

Are white meters the right choice for you?

While white meters do provide a great way of saving money, they only work if you fulfill most of your energy needs during off-peak hours.

White meters are ideal for those people who use at least 40% of their energy at night. For a white meter, there are several steps you can take that will help you save money:

By using a storage heater, you can heat water at off-peak times when the rate is cheaper and then use that energy during the day when the rates are higher.
However, that would mean that you will get hot water in the morning but a cooler supply in the evening.
Appliances with timers set according to off-peak hours can also help. If your appliance does not have a timer, using it during the day can cost you substantially more.

One thing to take into consideration is that white meters charge you a little more for your daytime energy than standard meters. This is why it’s important to make the most of your off-peak hours.

Are you paying a lot?

Regardless of whether you are using a white meter or not, you should always be mindful of your energy costs. Thorough energy comparisons are important so you can ensure that you are making use of the cheapest energy rates on the market and not paying more than you need to.

However, there are many different suppliers offering new and evolving energy deals by the minute. This is why most consumers get overwhelmed and choose to stick with the energy supplier they have been using for months, or even years. This leads to them paying far more than they have to.

The thing to always remember is that energy comparisons are not a daunting task. All you have to do is fill a ten-second form on our website and let us handle the rest for you. We compare your energy bills and run them through our wide database and come up with the cheapest energy deals for you. By asking you a few questions, we ensure that the deal we offer you is perfectly suited to your energy needs.

So, stop fretting about it and start saving money on your energy bills now!