How to read your smart electricity meter and track usage

Start with the kWh reading, then check what your bill actually uses.

The answer in 2 lines. Smart electricity meters in England come in different designs: there is no universal button sequence. Find the electricity import reading in kWh, record it with the date and compare it with your bill. If your tariff uses separate registers, record each relevant reading with its label. The portable in-home display helps you follow usage, but it is separate from the meter. Automatic readings normally reach your supplier when the meter is communicating properly; if they stop, you may need to submit readings yourself.

The first steps

Find the actual electricity meter. Use the meter serial number on your bill to help identify it, particularly in a shared cupboard.
Find the import reading in kWh. Follow instructions for your button layout rather than pressing buttons at random.
Record the reading and its label. Add the date and a photograph, then compare it with the readings shown on your electricity bill.

Stop: danger

Scorching, smoke, exposed wiring or a damaged meter enclosure: keep clear and do not attempt a reading by touching or opening anything. Smoke or fire requires evacuation and a call to 999.
Meter inaccessible or unsafe to reach: do not climb on furniture or disturb cables. Ask your supplier for help obtaining readings safely.

Which numbers should you write down?

Look for the electricity you have taken from the supply, usually labelled with wording such as 'total active import', 'IMP' or a rate label, followed by kWh. For a normal manual submission, record the whole-number reading and leave out digits after the decimal point.

Use the Citizens Advice smart electricity meter instructions: match your meter's button layout to the illustrated section, then follow that sequence. If yours is unclear, ask your supplier for instructions for the exact model. Do not open the meter casing or remove seals.

Understand the different screens

Cumulative import, in kWh: the running total used for checking consumption between readings.
Separate rate registers: totals for different charging periods. Keep their labels with the readings.
Export: electricity sent out from your home, where relevant. Do not submit it as imported electricity.
Current usage on the in-home display: a way to see how demand changes as appliances run.
Cost on the display: useful for monitoring, but check the bill and tariff details before treating it as the final amount due.

The National Energy Action meter guide explains meter types and bill terminology. Use it to distinguish an actual reading from an estimated bill.

What not to do

Submitting the amount spent today instead of the cumulative kWh reading.
Assuming a register labelled 'Rate 1' always means the cheaper period.
Adding separate rate readings together when your supplier asks for them individually.
Assuming a blank portable display means the electricity meter has stopped measuring.

Track usage without guessing

Use the in-home display's electricity view to compare current usage and the periods available on your model. For a longer comparison, record cumulative readings at similar times and subtract the earlier reading from the later one. Compare similar periods and consider heating, cooking and changes in who is at home.

You can observe what changes when an ordinary appliance is switched off safely. Do not disconnect medical equipment or essential services for an experiment. A brief observation cannot establish a fridge or freezer's full consumption because it cycles on and off.

The government's household smart-meter guide explains the meter and display. Read its usage and data sections before choosing how to monitor your consumption.

If readings or display information look wrong

Check whether your bill uses actual or estimated readings, and whether the meter serial number matches. If you have multiple rates, check that each reading has been assigned to the right register. Ask your supplier to explain any mismatch and how to submit a dated photograph through its normal customer service channel.

For communication faults or display problems, use Ofgem's smart-meter help. Follow the section matching your problem, then contact your supplier with the readings and symptoms. A failed display and a failure to send automatic readings are different problems.

This guide is for England. Meter principles are broadly shared across Great Britain; Northern Ireland has different energy-market arrangements. Online history and available data detail depend on your meter, settings and supplier.

Good to know

A communicating smart meter normally sends readings automatically; a communication fault can mean manual submissions are needed.
Check your tariff's charging periods rather than assuming the meter label tells you when cheaper electricity applies.
Keep a dated reading when moving home so you can check the closing or opening bill.

Illustrative example: in Bristol, Daniel notices his bill uses an estimated reading. He follows the instructions matching his meter's buttons, photographs the import reading and sends it through his supplier's usual account channel. He asks why automatic readings stopped, then checks the revised bill against his photograph.

A made-up story, for illustration.

Bobby

Sources, verification, confidence

Verified on 4 November 2026, for England. Confidence: high for identifying cumulative electricity readings, distinguishing the meter from its display and checking actual versus estimated bills; medium for model-specific menus, cost displays and online history, which vary. No universal button sequence, reporting frequency or online update delay is assumed.