8 April 2024, 4 min read
From time to time, your energy distributor and meter provider won’t be able to access your meter to take a reading.
This means your bill will be calculated based on your estimated, rather than actual, usage. (If your meter read’s been estimated, it will have an ‘E’ next to it on your bill.)
When this happens, we recommend performing a self-meter read.
Here’s how you can do that, starting at the top.
Every house is unique, which can make locating your meter a challenge sometimes!
In free-standing houses
Look for a meter attached to an external wall at the front or back of your house, or even in the backyard. Your meter might be in the garage, laundry, hallway, or tucked away in a cupboard.
In apartment complexes or flats
Check your carpark or basement areas. If your meter’s not here, there might be a special meter room allocated for all the meters in your building. We recommend contacting your building manager for assistance.
Although meters and their housing boxes are designed to be safe, they can deteriorate over time. Make sure you check for exposed wires, signs of burning or melting, and damage from water, animals, or insects.
If you encounter anything hazardous, do not touch or attempt to fix it yourself. Instead, contact us for assistance.
Before submitting a meter read, it’s essential to identify your meter type.
There are typically three types of meters.
A clock dial meter has five dials on it, each numbered from 0-9.
There may be a sixth red dial, which you can ignore.
How to read a clock dial meter
Record the numbers each dial points to, from left to right. If a dial is not exactly on a number, record its closest number. Record 9 when the dial is between 9 and 0.
Ignore the red dial.
For example, this meter read is 60279.
A cyclometer dial has a counter on its front, like the image below.
How to read a cyclometer dial
To read the dials correctly, record the numbers moving from left to right. Ignore any re dials and ensure you record the lowest number closest to each dial.
The meter read on the example is 25030.
A smart meter will have a digital display, like in the image below.
How to read a smart meter
Start by pressing the ‘display’ button to view the reading options on the screen.
If you’re providing a reading, use your smart meter’s buttons and menus to find and record your usage for peak, off-peak (if applicable), and solar (if applicable), including any leading zeros.
The meter read on the example is 0003275.
Important: If you have multiple registers, the screen will automatically scroll through each reading. Refer to your latest bill to determine the number of registers you have (refer to our bill guide).
Once you’ve found and read your meter, it’s time to submit your meter read.
If you’ve received multiple estimated bills, you can request an adjustment by submitting a self-reading or arranging for someone to read your me.er:
Phone
You can call us on 1800 359 797 and we can assist you through the process of submitting your own read.
Send us a clear photo of your electricity meter which should include the meter reading, meter serial number and timestamp (such as, newspaper or any shopping receipt for that date) in a single image to contact@flowpower.com.au.
This means it captures the entire face of the meter from the front, is not blurry or obscured by dust/dirt, and does not have any writing or glare.
If your reading is accepted, we’ll issue you with a revised bill with a new due date.
If your reading is rejected, we’ll email you to explain why. The original bill amount will remain in place.
Your meter read may be rejected if:
If you require additional time, please contact us for a payment extension.
You can ensure sure your distributor can access your meter by:
It is mandatory to provide access to your meter at least once every 12 months. You can find the date of your next meter reading on your bill.
Still having trouble, or want to arrange a special meter read? Contact our Customer Success team on 1800 358 797 or on contact@flowpower.com.au for help.