Smart meters automatically send readings to your energy supplier, eliminating the need for manual checks in most cases, but taking your own readings helps monitor usage or verify bills. Different models vary by buttons and display types, so identify yours first (often electricity meters have keypads or A/B buttons). Here's a detailed guide based on common UK-style smart meters, drawn from standard instructions as of early 2026.

Identify Your Meter Type

Smart electricity meters come in several designs, mainly differing by button layout. Common types include:

  • Keypad meters : Black screen with numbered buttons below.
  • A/B button meters : Two buttons labeled A (often green) and B (white or grey) beside or below the screen.
  • Arrow button meters : Orange and blue arrows or 1-3 unmarked buttons.
  • Display select meters : Buttons labeled "reconnect" or "display select."
  • Auto-cycling meters : Two white buttons; screen changes automatically.

Look for "kWh" next to numbersā€”these are your key readings. Always ignore leading zeros and decimal points (e.g., 01234.56 becomes 1234).

Step-by-Step Reading Guides

Follow these tailored instructions for accuracy. Take readings at the same time daily for trends.

Keypad Meters (e.g., Secure-style)

  1. Press 9 on the keypad.
  2. Wait for "TOTAL ACT IMPORT" or "TOTAL IMP kWh" with numbers like 12345.67 kWh.
  3. Note blackbold digits left of the decimal: 12345.

A/B Button Meters (Green A, White B)

  1. Press white B to wake the screen; select "no" if "meter boost" appears.
  2. Press green A repeatedly until "kWh" shows (e.g., 1234.5 kWh).
  3. Record digits before decimal: 1234.

Three Unmarked Buttons

  1. Press the middle button.
  2. Find "IMP" or "kWh" row: e.g., IMP 12345.
  3. Note whole numbers: 12345.

Orange/Blue Arrow Buttons

  1. Press the orange button.
  2. Screen shows numbers + "kWh" (e.g., 05678.90).
  3. Record: 5678.

Auto-Cycling or Display Select

  • Wait for "kWh" screen (cycles every few seconds) or press display/reconnect until it appears.
  • Note pre-decimal numbers.

Pro Tip : Gas meters often need a red "enter" button after keying in a code like 811 for credit metersā€”check your supplier's app.

Common Pitfalls and Troubleshooting

Many struggle with confusing screens, as forum users noteā€”like Reddit Brits baffled by decimals or irrelevant displays (e.g., date/time).

  • Wrong numbers? Cycle fully; avoid "export" or reactive power (kVArh).
  • Screen stuck? Power cycle or call supplierā€”seen in 20% of complaints.
  • In-App Alternative : Use supplier apps (e.g., Octopus Energy) for half-hourly data without buttons.

Meter Type| Key Action| What to Record
---|---|---
Keypad| Press 9| TOTAL ACT IMP kWh (pre-decimal) 1
A/B Buttons| A to cycle| kWh row 1
3 Buttons| Middle press| IMP kWh 3
Orange Arrow| Orange press| kWh digits 1

Why Bother Reading Manually?

Even in 2026, with nationwide smart rollouts, manual checks catch billing errorsā€”forum tales abound of overcharges fixed by user logs. Track peaks (evenings) for savings; pair with IHD (In-Home Display) for graphs. Trending: Post-2025 upgrades mean more meters auto-report, but privacy tweaks let you opt out.

TL;DR : Press A/B or relevant buttons to reach kWh screen, note whole numbers before decimalā€”supplier confirms if stuck. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.