Meters & Readings

All meter reading questions

• How do I read my electricity meter?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  To read your electric meter, record the numbers shown from left to right and ignore any numbers after a decimal point or shown in red.
  
  The exact steps depend on the type of electricity meter you have:
  
  ●    Digital meter: Record all the numbers shown before any decimal point.
  
  
  ●    Dial/clock meter: Read each dial from left to right and record the number each pointer has just passed. If the clock hand is pointing between two numbers, read the lower number. 
  
  
  ●    Keypad meter: Press 9 on the keypad. Display the meter reading on screen and record the numbers shown.
  
  
  If you're unsure which type of meter you have, see the FAQs below for step-by-step instructions for digital, dial and keypad electricity meters.

• How do I find my MPRN?

  You can find your MPRN (Meter Point Reference Number) on your Power NI bill. It’s normally displayed on the top right.
  
  Alternatively, you can contact NIE Networks who will provide you with this.

• How to read a dial electricity meter

  Submit a meter reading
  
  To read an older dial electric meter (sometimes known as a “clock meter”), record the number each dial has just passed, working from left to right.
  
  Dial meters have several clock-style dials that rotate in opposite directions.
  
  1.    Read each dial from left to right.
  2.    If the pointer is between two numbers, record the lower number.
  3.    If the pointer is between 9 and 0, record 9.
  4.    Write down all the numbers in order.
  
  For example, the dial meter below shows the hands sitting at 70164, so your meter reading is 70164. Ignore any numbers marked 1/10 or 1/100 or in red.
  

• How to read a digital electricity meter

  Submit a meter reading
  
  To read a digital electric meter, write down the numbers displayed from left to right and ignore any numbers after the decimal point. On most modern meters, the reading you need to enter will have a 't' before the numbers.
  
  Most digital electricity meters show your usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
  
  1.    Look at the display screen on your meter.
  2.    Record all the whole numbers shown before any decimal point.
  3.    Do not include numbers after the decimal point.
  4.    Submit the reading exactly as shown.
  
  For example, on the the digital meter below, the meter reading is 25412.
  
   

• How do I read my dual meter for Economy 7 or EV Nightshift tariff?

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  There are a few different types of meter. To help you with reading your meter please find your correct meter type below.
  
  Keypad meter: 
  
  Push 3 on the freedom unit for the first read.
  Push 3 again for the second reading.

  
  Digit meter:
  
  Push the button to scroll through the display.
  Take the reading displayed after Rate 1 or R1.
  Then take the reading displayed after Rate 2 or R2.
  
  
  
  Import/export meter (if you have renewable technology installed):
  
  For the day rate, press the blue button repeatedly until you see a small “1” in the corner of the display and take the reading.
  
  For the night rate, press the blue button repeatedly until you see a small “2” in the corner of the display and take the reading.
  
  

• How do I submit a meter reading?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  To submit a meter reading to Power NI, log in to your online account, go to the Billing screen and select Submit meter read.
  
  1.    Log in to your online account
  2.    On the Billing screen, select the Submit meter read button
  3.    On the Meter readings page, type in the numbers shown on your meter
  4.    Click Submit meter read to send it to us
  
  Not sure which numbers to use when submitting your meter reading? See our other meter reading FAQs.

• How do I know if I have a dual rate meter?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  If you are asked to enter two, or more, meter readings this means you have a dual rate meter. This means you are on a tariff with different unit rates, such as Economy 7 or EV Nightshift.

• How many digits are in an electricity meter reading?

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  Most electricity meter readings contain between five and seven digits. Record all the whole numbers shown on your meter, and ignore any numbers after a decimal point.
  
  For example, if your meter displays 004582.7, the reading is 4582.

• How often is my meter read?

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  Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) will attempt to read your meter once a quarter (every 3 months), this includes Keypad meters. 
  
  Why are NIE reading my meter?
  
  As NIE Networks own the metering equipment, they will need access to your meter once a quarter to carry out a safety check to make sure it is working correctly (this includes Keypad meters).

• How to read a prepaid electricity meter

  To read a prepaid electric meter (like the Power NI Keypad meter), follow the instructions on your meter to display the current meter reading.
  
  Be careful not to confuse your meter reading with your remaining credit balance.
  
  1.    Go to your keypad meter.
  2.    Press 9 on the keypad.
  3.    Wait for the meter reading to appear on the display.
  4.    Write down all the numbers shown.
  5.    Submit the reading exactly as it appears on your meter.
  
  For example, the keypad meter below shows a meter reading of 2229.
  
   

• What do I do if I think my meter is faulty?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  If you are concerned your meter is not working properly, then please contact us with your current meter reading, it may be useful to be at your meter when you call us. Phone lines open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. Calls are recorded for quality assurance purposes.
  
  If you feel there is a health and safety issue with your meter, please contact NIE Networks.

• What if I miss the meter reader?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) read meters on behalf of all electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland. 
  If your meter is located inside your property or behind closed gates, meter readers will require you to give them access. If you miss the meter reader, they should leave a card to let you know they have called and how you can provide a reading. 
  
  If you have an online account, you will get a notification when the meter read is due and you will see a prompt when you log in. If your meter reading is not due, you can use a reading to estimate your next bill amount, however this reading will be used for your guidance only.
  
  If you don’t have an online account, you can register now or you can submit your reading on the NIE Networks website. Submitting a meter read will help keep your bill accurate. Even if you submit your own read, an NIE Networks meter reader will still need access to your meter once a year. As NIE Networks own the meter, they need to carry out a safety check and make sure it is working correctly. 

• What units are electricity meter readings in?

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  Electricity meters measure energy usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kilowatt-hour is the amount of electricity used when a 1,000-watt appliance runs for one hour. Your electricity bill is based on the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) used during the billing period.

• Why are NIE Networks reading my meter if I'm a Power NI customer?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  Power NI and NIE Networks are separate organisations. Power NI is an electricity supplier, whereas Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) own the electricity transmission and distribution network and read meters on behalf of all electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland.

• Do I need to submit a meter reading?

  Submit a meter reading
  
  You only need to submit a meter reading when we ask you to. We'll email you and add a notification to your online account. 

  • If your meter is accessible outside your home. NIE Networks reads it around every three months and sends us the reading, so you'll rarely need to send one yourself.

  • If your meter is non-accessible or inside your home. NIE Networks needs access to read it. If nobody's home when they call, they'll leave a card and we may ask you to send the reading.

• Why can't I submit a meter reading?

  If ‘Submit meter read’ isn't showing in your online account, it's usually because your meter has already been read or your reading window is closed. 

  • NIE Networks has already read your meter. They own the metering equipment and read meters around every three months. If they've sent us a reading for this period, we'll use theirs.

  • Your reading window is closed. You can only send a reading in the short period before we produce your bill. We'll email you when it opens again.

  You can still estimate your next bill in your online account while your window is closed. This is for guidance only, we won't use it to work out what you pay.