Millions of customers have just over a week left to make key energy bill check or risk being overcharged

MILLIONS of households have just days left to take a meter reading before the new energy price cap comes into force.

From April 1 a typical household’s energy bill will rise by £111 to £1,849 a year if they use electricity and gas and pay by Direct Debit.

This is an increase of 6.4% compared to the previous cap.

The cap is set by the regulator Ofgem every three months.

It limits the maximum amount an energy firm can charge households for the units of gas and electricity they use.

Around 22 million households in England, Scotland and Wales are on a variable tariff, which means their bills rise and fall in line with the energy price cap.

If you are on a fixed tariff then you will not be affected by the change.

This is because a fixed tariff charges you the same price per unit of gas and electricity for the duration of your contract.

If you are on a standard variable tariff it is vital you submit a meter reading now before the cap increases.

This is to make sure you are charged the lower rate for the energy you used before prices increased.

If you miss the deadline to submit a meter reading then you will be sent an estimated bill by your supplier.

This predicts what your bill would be based on how much energy you are expected to have used, not what you have actually used.

The exact date you have to submit a meter reading by depends on your energy supplier.

Some will give you a few days after the price cap increases to submit a backdated meter reading, while others will give you a week or more.

For example, Octopus Energy is encouraging its customers to submit their meter reading by the end of March.

But the supplier has confirmed that any readings provided by April 8 will be backdated.

What energy bill help is available?

There's a number of different ways to get help paying your energy bills if you're struggling to get by.

If you fall into debt, you can always approach your supplier to see if they can put you on a repayment plan before putting you on a prepayment meter.

This involves paying off what you owe in instalments over a set period.

If your supplier offers you a repayment plan you don't think you can afford, speak to them again to see if you can negotiate a better deal.

Severalenergy firms have schemesavailable to customers struggling to cover their bills.

But eligibility criteria vary depending on the supplier and the amount you can get depends on your financial circumstances.

For example, British Gas or Scottish Gas customers struggling to pay their energy bills can get grants worth up to £2,000.

British Gas also offers help via its British Gas Energy Trust and Individuals Family Fund.

You don't need to be a British Gas customer to apply for the second fund.

EDF, E.ON, Octopus Energy and Scottish Power all offer grants to struggling customers too.

Thousands of vulnerable households are missing out on extra help and protections by not signing up to the Priority Services Register (PSR).

The service helps support vulnerablehouseholds, such as those who are elderly or ill.

Some of the perks include being given advance warning ofblackouts, freegassafety checks and extra support if you're struggling.

Get in touch with your energy firm to see if you can apply.

You can submit the reading via phone, website or mobile app.

You do not need to submit a reading if you have a smart meter as your supplier should receive it automatically.

But check if your smart meter is in “smart mode”; to ensure it is recording and sending accurate meter readings.

You also do not need to submit a meter reading if you have a prepayment meter.

How to submit a meter reading

Electricity meter

If you have a digital electricity meter then you will see a row of six numbers.

Five of them will be in black and one will be in red.

Write down the five numbers in black, which are shown from left to right.

If you are on an economy 7 or 10 tariff, which gives you cheaper electricity at night, then you will have two rows of numbers.

You need both to take a reading.

If you have a traditional dial meter then you need to read the first five dials from left to right.

Ignore any red dials.

If the pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower number.

If it is between nine and zero then write down nine.

Gas meter

If you have a digital metric gas meter showing five numbers followed by a decimal point then you need to write down the first five numbers.

If you have a digital imperial meter then you will see four black numbers and two red numbers.

Write down the four black numbers only.

If you have a digital gas meter, follow the same steps as the digital electricity meter.

How to submit a meter reading

Take a photo of your gas and electricity meters when you take your reading.

This means you have evidence if you need to dispute a bill.

You can send in your meter reading online via your energy account.

Some providers will also let you send in the numbers by text or through their app.

Check which options your supplier offers on their website.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].

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