How to read an electricity and gas bill

Meter readings, kWh, unit rates, standing charges, VAT, credit, debt and direct debit explained.

Check readings, dates and fuel separately before deciding whether a monthly payment reflects actual energy cost.

A direct debit amount is a payment plan. It can be above or below the energy used during that month.

Readings

Mark actual, smart and estimated readings and the number of days.

Charges

Recalculate kWh × unit rate and p/day × days for each fuel.

Account balance

Credit, debit and arrears are not current-period consumption.

Gas conversion

The bill converts meter volume to kWh; use the published calculation rather than treating units as kWh.

Frequently asked questions

Is my direct debit my monthly bill?

Not exactly. It is normally a smoothed payment towards an account that is reconciled against actual charges.

How current are the figures?

Each page shows its review date. Your live tariff and the latest official publication always take priority.

Sources and review date

Content reviewed on: 2026-08-03.