UK households are being urged to read their meter and take a photo of the reading by Tuesday, April 1, to avoid overpaying on their bills. Energy bills are about to become more expensive for millions of households from April as Ofgem’s price cap rises for the third time in a row.
Annual energy bills for households on a standard variable tariff in England, Wales and Scotland will rise by 6.4% from April 1 as the price cap goes up from £1,738 to £1,849 – an annual increase of £111 on average. The unit price of gas is increasing from 6.34p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 6.99p per kWh while electricity is going up from 24.86p/kWh to 27.03p/kWh. The price cap sets the maximum rate per unit and standing charge that customers can be charged by suppliers for their energy use – not the total bill, so the more energy you use, the more you pay.
To avoid the higher price cap from April 1, households on standard variable tariffs who don’t have a smart meter should record and submit their meter readings on or around March 31, according to Uswitch.
According to the price comparison website, nine million households need to read their meter by April 1 to avoid the risk of overpaying on their energy bills. The difference between a week’s worth of energy at April’s rates compared with March’s is £3.62 for the average household.
Those on standard variable tariffs without a smart meter who fail to submit meter readings on or around April 1 risk having some of their usage estimated – and possibly charged under the rates which are 6.4% higher.
Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, said: “With the price cap rising on April 1, it’s important to submit a meter reading to avoid paying higher rates on any energy that you don’t need to.
“Now is also an ideal time to look at switching to a new energy tariff, as there are a range of fixed deals currently available that are around £239 cheaper than the April price cap for the average household.
“By opting for a fixed deal, you’re locking in those rates for the duration – which means households could have price certainty and avoid the ups and downs of the price cap. Make sure you’re happy with how long the contract lasts and the exit fees you may have to pay to leave early.”
Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert (MSE) also recommends taking a photo of your meter once you’ve taken a reading, that way you have evidence of the correct reading in case there are any issues with the amount you’re charged.
MSE says: “To make sure there are no discrepancies in the amount you’re charged on the higher rate, it’s a good idea to give a meter reading to your supplier on or around April 1. This stops your supplier from estimating your usage, and potentially assuming you’ve used more at the new higher rate than you actually have.
“If you have smart meters that are working properly in smart mode, so they’re regularly sending meter readings to your provider, there’s no need to do anything, as they do it automatically.
“You may want to double-check your meters are sending reads, though. You can usually see this in your account or on your bill. You can also take a photo of your meters on the day, so you have the readings for safety.”
