Households are being told to take one final look at their energy meter ahead of a long-awaited change to energy bills this weekend.

The cost of gas and electricity is shifting this Saturday, thanks to a drop in the energy price cap which controls how much companies can charge customers.

But before the change in energy prices kicks in, households are being encouraged to take a good look at their gas and electricity meters for an accurate reading of the energy their home has used right up until the switch.

Currently the average household is paying £2,500 a year for gas and electricity – a price being controlled by the government’s energy price guarantee which artificially froze prices after Ofgem’s price cap shot up to £3,280 for the average home.

However on Saturday – July 1 – the price cap is going to fall for the first time in more than a year to £2,074 for the average property using an average amount of energy.

This means the government’s current price freeze will no longer be necessary as it will become higher than the cap regulator Ofgem has set for bills after July.

It’ll also mean the average energy bill is to drop by around £426 a year. However, while energy experts have described it as a ‘step in the right direction’ because households have been supported with a £400 grant to help cover bills during the last winter, in reality homes may not notice a lot of difference to the monthly amount they will continue to pay.

Reading your meter

Customers not using a prepayment meter should take accurate and regular meter readings to give their supplier a up-to-date account of the amount of energy being used in order to avoid estimations and the risk of overcharging.

However when the cost of energy changes – either up or down – experts say it is particularly vital to record a meter reading with your supplier to draw a line under how much you’ve used at the current rate before a price switch.

Those not sending a reading will risk their energy firm guessing at what their usage was before and after July 1 when they will then be charged according to those guesses.

National Meter Reading Day

As the last day before the price switch – Friday, June 30 is being dubbed National Meter Reading Day and domestic customers should attempt to submit their reading before midnight to ensure they’re paying the lower price as soon as the price change comes into force early on Saturday morning.

However, it’s not unheard of for energy websites to crash and phone lines to become overwhelmed as the price cap changes as thousands attempt to submit their latest readings.

If you find that your provider is struggling to manage the demand from customers wishing to log a reading – the advice is to take a time-stamped photo of your meter and its figures should you need to ultimately submit it a day or two later.

Some suppliers, such as British Gas, may also allow you to send your reading via text or over the phone using your keypad if apps and accounts are overwhelmed.

Gareth Kloet, energy spokesman for comparison site Go Compare said: “This drop will come as a very welcome relief for many households who have been struggling to pay their energy bills in the past year.

“If you compare energy prices with winter 2021 – when the price cap was set at £1,277 – the past 12 months have been a huge struggle for many, so this weekend’s drop is definitely a step in the right direction. However, it’s important that you take a meter reading so that you can make the most of the price drop.”