A meter is a device that measures the amount of gas and electricity your house uses. Your shared house will likely have a separate electric meter and a gas meter (if the property uses gas). You might also have a water meter, but this is less common.
Your electricity meter measures the kilowatt-hour (kWh) of energy consumed, while your gas meter measures the cubic meters of gas flowing through the meter. These readings are used to calculate your gas and electricity bills.
Some houses have smart meters installed. These automatically send readings to your energy supplier, so you don’t have to submit meter readings. They’ll also usually come with a home display device so you can see how much energy you’re using.
You’ll need to take the correct readings when you move in, every month, and on the day you move out. Write down the number or take a picture of your meter. Then, you can send the readings to your supplier when they ask for them.
How you read your meter will depend on the type; for example, you might have a traditional or digital display.
If you’ve noticed that your meter readings are higher than usual in your shared house or you’re paying more than you have done previously, here are a few things to consider:
Number of housemates
The more housemates you live with, the higher your energy bills and meter readings will be. If you’ve noticed your meter readings are higher than those of a previous shared house you’ve lived in, it will likely be because more people are living in your current house.
You should also consider the number of guests you have – does one housemate have a boyfriend or girlfriend who is always visiting? This can impact your energy meter readings.
Seasons and weather
Most households will typically use more energy for heating in the colder months. If you’re not a fan of the cold and your radiators are always on, this will likely mean much higher meter readings. Try to wrap up warm rather than always turning the radiators on, or invest in an electric blanket to keep you toasty!
Energy efficiency
How energy efficient your shared house is will also affect the energy used. This includes how energy-efficient the appliances are and what the insulation is like. There isn’t anything you can do about this, as it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide appliances (assuming your shared house is furnished) and ensure the insulation is suitable.
Bad habits
Bad habits also contribute to high meter readings, so take a look at our top eco-friendly tips for saving energy and water in the next section.
If any of the above factors are affecting your monthly bills, you may want to consider using a bill-splitting service like us, as you’ll have peace of mind that the price will stay the same every month. Want to know what all your utilities will cost this year? You can get an instant quote here.
If you’re doing your best as a household to manage your energy usage but your bills still seem to fluctuate monthly, an uncapped plan could be the solution!
Split The Bills offers a straightforward bill-splitting service for students and young professionals in shared houses. Our uncapped gas and electricity plan gives you complete peace of mind about your energy usage, so you have one less thing to think about!
You can choose what you want included in your package, including gas, electricity, water, and even a TV licence (if you plan on watching live TV). Our team will automatically split all of your household bills between everyone living in the house, so there’s no need to worry about someone forgetting to pay their portion of the bills.
If you want a simpler way to pay your shared household bills, find out more about how it works or get in touch with our team!
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