Page last updated on 1st April 2026
How can I read a smart meter?
Your smart meter will send your meter readings directly to your energy supplier, making manual readings a thing of the past. But if you need to you can still take readings yourself using your smart meter and accompanying in-home display.
Am I looking at a smart meter or a smart meter display?
Before we begin, we need to make sure you’re looking at the right device. When you get your smart meter installed you can choose to accept an accompanying in-home display (IHD), also known as the smart meter display.
Why take a manual smart meter reading?
Smart meters automatically send meter readings to your energy supplier. This means you’ll no longer need to take a meter reading. And you can expect accurate, not estimated bills.
But there are instances where manual meter readings could help you:
- You want to personally track your energy use alongside your in-home display.
- If you change the settings on your smart meter so it no longer sends your meter readings automatically.
- You’ve just switched supplier (you normally need to send just the first meter reading)
- Or you may need to take a meter reading if you have switched supplier and have a SMETS1 meter.
How to take a meter reading if you have a smart meter
To take a meter reading with a smart meter depends on which smart meter your looking at:
How to read your gas smart meter
Click on the link below to find out how to read your gas smart meter.
How to read your electric smart meter
Getting a reading from your electric smart meter will depend on what your smart meter looks like.
Click on the link below if your meter has:
- a keypad
- A and B buttons under the screen
- a green 'A' button to the right of the screen & a white 'B' button below it
- 3 buttons to the right of the screen
- orange and blue arrow buttons
- 2 white buttons to the right of the screen
- 2 buttons to the right of the screen and one says 'reconnect'
- a green 'A' button & grey 'B' button to the right of the screen
For your electricity meter readings, you’ll have to look for the number followed by ‘kWh’ which stands for kilowatt hours.
Energy suppliers provide different smart meters, which means yours may look different to your friends’ or neighbours’. For specific advice on using your smart meter to take a meter reading, contact your energy supplier.
Smart meters with a keypad
- press 9
- wait until you see ‘IMP KWH’
- you’ll then see numbers followed by ‘KWH’
- write down the numbers from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point
Smart electricity meters with ‘A’ and ‘B’ buttons under the screen
- press the A button and wait a few seconds
- press the A button again until you see ‘TOTAL ACT IMPORT’ and numbers followed by ‘KWH
- write down the number from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point
Smart electricity meters with a green ‘A’ button to the right of the screen and a white ‘B’ button below it
- press the white B button to light up the screen
- wait until the screen says ‘meter boost’ – then press 'A' to select 'no'
- you should see your meter reading followed by ‘KWH’
- write down the numbers from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Smart electricity meters with 3 buttons to the right of the screen
- press the middle button
- write down the number below ‘IMP’ from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Smart electricity meters with 1 orange button and 2 blue buttons
- press the orange button
- write down the number from left to right, this is your electric meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Smart electricity meters with 2 white buttons to the right of the screen
- Your meter should automatically change between screens, so wait for the screen that shows numbers followed by KWH. Contact your energy supplier if your smart meter is not automatically changing between screens.
- write down the numbers from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Smart electricity meters with 2 buttons to the right of the screen and one says ‘reconnect’
- press the ‘display’ or ‘display select’ button
- press the ‘display’ or ‘display select’ button again until you see numbers followed by KWH
- write down the number from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
Smart electricity meters with a green ‘A’ button and grey ‘B’ button to the right of the screen
- look at the screen - you don’t need to press any buttons
- write down the number next to ‘KWH’ from left to right, this is your meter reading
Remember to ignore any zeroes at the beginning and any numbers after the decimal point.
How can I get a smart meter if I don’t have one?
Many homes in Britain can upgrade to a smart meter right now. But where you live, the type of home you live in and the age and type of your existing meter may mean that your energy supplier will take a little longer to install yours.
Your supplier will be in touch when your smart meter is ready to be installed. If you would like to enquire about getting one now, please click the link below:
FAQs
Can I get a smart meter for free?
There is no additional cost for installation of your smart meter. At the point of installation you may be offered an in-home display that shows your spending in near real-time for no additional cost. You won’t have an extra charge on your bill because you choose to have a smart meter. The costs will be spread across everyone’s bills, just like the cost of running and maintaining today’s traditional meters are.
Do I need one smart meter for gas and another for electricity?
Yes, if you're a dual-fuel customer, both meters will need to be replaced. Your supplier will aim to install both meters on the same visit to make things as easy as possible. You will only need one in-home display to view both your gas and electricity usage. If your gas and electricity accounts are with different suppliers, you will have two separate smart meter installations - one from each of your suppliers.
If your home’s gas and electricity are supplied by different suppliers, we suggest having your electric smart meter installed before your gas smart meter. We have a lot more information about smart meters and the installation process on our installation process page.