When to take your readings
Take a final reading at your old home on the day you leave, ideally as the last thing you do before handing over the keys. At your new home, take a reading as soon as you arrive — before you switch anything on if possible. Photograph every meter with a timestamp so you have proof. Don't forget your water meter too, if you have one.
What to record
For gas meters, note the number shown on the display (ignore any numbers in red or after the decimal point). For electricity, record the full reading. If you have an Economy 7 or multi-rate meter, you'll have two readings — one for day and one for night. Write down the meter serial number too, as it helps suppliers identify your account.
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Send your final readings to your current energy supplier for the old property and submit opening readings to whatever supplier is active at your new address. You can usually do this online, via an app, or by phone. If you don't know who supplies the new property, use the Meter Point Administration Service (MPAS) for electricity or Xoserve for gas to find out. See our guide on notifying your energy supplier for more on closing your old account.
Smart meters and moving
If your old or new home has a smart meter, it may still be worth taking a manual reading as a backup. Smart meters sometimes lose connectivity when you switch supplier or move house, and a manual reading gives you proof of where things stood. First-generation SMETS1 meters often go 'dumb' when you switch supplier.