Households across the UK have been given a two-week deadline: take a clear photograph of your energy meter before 1 July, or risk being charged at the wrong rate when the Ofgem price cap rises. The warning comes from energy consultant Justin Nielsen of Wolf River Electric, whose advice has been endorsed by Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis.
Nielsen said: "The one thing I would tell every household to do before July 1 is take a clear meter reading and keep a photo of it. It takes less than five minutes, but it gives you a record of exactly where your usage stood before the new rates came in."
“Take a photo of your meter before July 1 or risk higher energy bills, warn Martin Lewis and energy expert Justin Nielsen.”
The Ofgem energy price cap is rising from the beginning of July, meaning households on standard variable tariffs will pay more per unit of gas and electricity. But Nielsen cautioned that the biggest mistake people make is assuming their supplier will automatically know how much energy was used before and after the change. "If your supplier does not have an up-to-date reading, they may estimate how much energy you used before the price change and how much came after it. That estimate might be reasonable, but it is still a guess."
The risk, he explained, is that some of a household's cheaper pre-July usage could be pushed into the more expensive period. "Even if the difference is not huge for every household, nobody wants to…" Nielsen said, his words trailing off in the original report.
Martin Lewis has regularly urged the same step, particularly as part of his "Meter Reading Day" campaign. He previously stated: "I would still get your phone out and take a picture of your meter today just in case of a future dispute, you don't need to do anything with it, you might want to email it to yourself so you've got proof."
On the Money Saving Expert website, the team advises: "The easiest way is to take a picture of your meters, so you have the readings to hand. Then you can log in to your online account and enter the readings."
For households with a functioning smart meter, the split between old and new tariffs should happen automatically. But those with traditional meters, defective smart meters, or accounts relying on estimated readings may still need to provide a manual reading. Nielsen stressed that the price cap does not cap a household's total bill—it caps what suppliers can charge per unit and standing charge. "Your final bill still depends on how much you use. That is why accurate readings matter so much," he said.
With the deadline of 1 July fast approaching, the message from both Nielsen and Lewis is clear: take the photo now, before the new rates kick in.