How to Read Your Electricity & Gas Meters

By Cormac Breen

Content Manager

Electricity and gas meters record how much energy you use and are used by your energy supplier to calculate your bill. There are various types of meters in use in Ireland including standard, digital, smart, dial and PAYG. To read your meter, simply read the numbers displayed on the panel or screen from left to right, which show your energy consumption in kWh.

What Electricity and Gas Meter Types Are There?

There are several different types of meters in use for both electricity and gas. In general, they can be classed into the types below:

1. Mechanical Meters
   This is the most common type of meter. It includes a revolving disc and one row of numbers.
2. Digital Meters
   These meters record your consumption on a digital display. They are the easiest to read.
3. Smart Meters
   These digital meters relay your live electricity consumption to your energy supplier, eliminating the need for estimated bills.
4. Dial Meters
   These outdated meters are generally only found as gas meters.
5. Pay As You Go (PAYG) Meters
   These meters have two components: the main meter from ESB Networks and a keypad for the customer to use. The keypad is normally on the side of the meter.

How Do You Read an Electricity Meter?

How you read electric meters depends on the type of meter you have.

Electricity and gas meters are largely the same and while most meters are read in the same way, there are some differences in how the information is displayed to you:

How Do You Read a Mechanical Revolving Disc Meter?

Mechanical revolving disc meters have a display with five black digits and one red digit. 

To submit a meter reading, you just use the first five (black) digits. Be sure to ignore any red digits or figures enclosed in a red box.

Day and Night Meter

Day and Night meters (Nightsaver) tend to be mechanical revolving disc meters. 

Both readings will be displayed on the same meter, and you’ll need to note both figures in order to submit a reading.

The night reading is marked 1, or I in Roman numerals, while the day reading is 2, or II.

How Do You Read a Digital Meter?

To take the reading, read the numbers from left to right. Be sure to include all the digits. Digital meters are by far the easiest to read.

If your digital meter is a Time of Day meter, it will have a blue display button. Press this button to scroll from the day to the night reading.

The day reading will show a 2 on the left, and the night reading will show a 1 on the left. As with the 24-hour meter, take the reading from left to right and include all digits.

How Do You Read a Smart Meter?

A smart meter is a new type of digital meter. It has transmitting capabilities that enable automated meter readings.

Your electricity consumption will de displayed on the screen and, like with a digital meter, simply read the numbers from left to right to see your consumption in kWh.

How Do You Read a Dial Meter?

Dial meters (also called clock meters), are the most outdated meter type. They’ll normally only be used for gas nowadays, as the ones for electricity were replaced years ago.

To read your dial meter in the meantime, ignore the dial on the right, You will be left with five dials each pointing to a different number. Take the numbers, from left to right, to get your meter reading number. If the arrow on a dial is halfway between two figures, take the previous number.

How Do You Read PAYG Meters?

Unlike a digital meter, a PAYG meter (also known as a prepayment meter) will not show you your current reading on the screen, instead it will display your credit.

To get a meter reading, simply press number nine on the keypad.

Be aware that many PAYG meters have two components, the meter, and the keypad (which is normally positioned to the side of the meter).

Where Is My Electricity Meter?

Modern gas and electricity meters are normally located outside dwellings in a meter box or cabinet, usually attached to a wall. If gates or fences are put in to separate the front and back garden, they must be behind the meter box, so that technicians can access it.

I Don’t Have a Garden. Where Is My Meter?

Occasionally, a meter box may be located inside a house - for example, if there is no garden.

If you’ve just moved into a new house and aren’t too sure of where the meter is, some common places a meter is normally located inside a house include:

• Under the stairs
• Under the sink
• In the garage
• In a cupboard
• Near the entrance

I Live in an Apartment. Where Is My Meter?

In apartment complexes, ESB electricity and/or gas meters are normally located in meter banks on the ground floor, in the basement or outside.

Usually, tenants and owners will not have access to where the meters are kept, and will need to speak to the building manager or apartment complex management company, in order to gain access.

If this is the case for you, and you’re unable to organise a time to coincide with gaining access, you could ask the person with the key to take a photo of your meter reading instead, and send it to you.

You can tell which meter is yours by matching it up with your MPRN or GPRN on your electricity or gas bill.

How Does a Meter Reading Work?

Regular meter readings allow you to monitor your energy consumption. They also ensure that you receive accurate bills from your gas or electricity supplier and are not overpaying on your home energy.

Meter readings are carried out up to four times per year. If you move in or out of a property, you should submit an electricity or gas meter reading at the time of moving.

Who Manages Electricity Meter Readings?

ESB Networks deals with electricity meter readings, regardless of which supplier you have. The company is responsible for all electricity meters in Ireland, no matter the type of meter you have.

A meter reader will visit your property up to four times per year to take your electricity meter reading. If you are not present when the meter reader visits, they will leave a card with information about how to submit your meter reading online or by phone.

To submit your electricity meter reading, you will need to provide your Meter Point Reference Number (MPRN).

Who Deals with Gas Meter Readings?

Gas Networks Ireland handles your gas meter readings. As with electricity meter readings, a meter reader will come up to four times per year from Gas Networks Ireland. If they are unable to access the meter, you will be given a 'no access' card.

This will have your Gas Point Reference Number (GPRN) on it, which you will need to submit the gas meter reading either online or by phone. You can also find your GPRN on your gas bill.