Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert has issued a stark warning to those who still don’t have a functioning smart meter. This week, dubbed ‘Meter Reading Week’ by Martin Lewis, is the quarterly period when energy customers are required to submit a meter reading to their supplier just as prices fluctuate, in order to avoid being overcharged.
However, those without a working smart meter – particularly given the high number of faulty smart meters – will need to take action, as well as those with traditional non-smart meters, according to Martin Lewis’ MSE. Ofgem has once again hiked energy prices, meaning that both gas and electricity costs will rise by 1.2% on January 1.
This comes on top of a 10% increase that was already implemented on October 1. Therefore, it’s more crucial than ever to ensure that you only pay for what you use and pay for it at the time of use, not later when it’s pricier, reports the Express.
Money Saving Expert stated: “It’s Meter Reading Week. If you’ve not got a WORKING smart meter, aim to give an up-to-date meter reading within a few days either side of 1 Jan, reducing the risk that your supplier estimates that you’ve used more at the new higher rate than you 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.”
Customers are recommended to ensure that their meters are correctly sending reads, as this can usually be observed in their account or on the bill. Taking a photo of the meters on the day is also suggested to have the readings securely stored.
Adding: “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.”
Additionally, providing a meter reading allows suppliers to calculate precisely how much has been used when prices alter, ensuring customers are charged accurately. “Giving a meter reading means your supplier will know exactly how much you used when prices change, so you’re fairly charged.”
However, MoneySavingExpert.com warns about the potential technical difficulties that could arise if everyone submits their meter readings simultaneously, as previously seen in March 2022, potentially causing suppliers’ websites to crash and phone lines to become congested. It’s especially concerning for vulnerable individuals who might be affected by these disruptions.
“Yet if all of us rush to do this on the same day, it can lead to suppliers’ websites crashing and phone lines becoming jammed, which can affect vulnerable people (as we saw in March 2022).”
To circumvent such issues, it’s advised to stagger the submission times or even consider backdating the readings to ensure continuity of service. Customers can record their meter readings on the scheduled day but submit them later, reducing the strain on suppliers’ systems and avoiding unnecessary inconvenience.
“To avoid that, you can give a reading a few days before or after and any discrepancy should be minor. Or, some firms let you backdate your reading, so if you take the actual meter reading on the day, note it down, but then submit it at a later date.”