Moving meter reading record

Keep a clear record when responsibility changes

The Movers Guide meter reading record gives you one place to write down the readings you take at your old and new homes. It is particularly useful when loading, key collection and travelling happen on the same day. Record each supply before its details disappear into a phone note or a pile of moving paperwork.

This tool creates a record; it does not send readings to a supplier. A saved entry also does not prove that a supplier accepted it. Use the notes field for a separate reminder such as “submitted through account; confirmation saved”. Keep any confirmation in your own records and compare the eventual bill with the reading you supplied.

What to enter and how the record works

Create one row for each meter register. Give the property a recognisable nickname, enter the reading date and time, choose the register and copy the reading using digits and a decimal point where appropriate. Day and night electricity readings belong in separate rows. Select the actual unit displayed rather than converting a gas reading into an assumed electricity equivalent.

The tool counts the rows and produces a table containing the property, time, register, reading, opening or closing purpose, and your notes. It does not subtract readings, estimate consumption, apply a tariff or calculate a final bill. That is deliberate: two records can refer to different meters, different units or different billing periods. Adding those figures together would not produce a meaningful charge.

You can include an optional meter serial suffix to help distinguish equipment in your entry. For an important identification detail, also record a clear reference in your notes and keep the original photograph separately. This page is a text record and does not upload meter photographs. Avoid storing supplier passwords or full payment details in any note.

Worked example: two homes and a dual-register meter

Suppose you leave a home with day and night electricity registers. You enter a closing day reading of 18452 kWh at 09:15 and a closing night reading of 7310 kWh at the same time. At your new home you enter an opening single-register electricity reading of 6190.3 kWh and a gas reading of 842 m³ at 15:40.

The result shows four meter records. It does not calculate 18452 minus 6190.3, because those electricity readings come from different properties. It also does not combine 842 m³ with electricity units. These hypothetical figures demonstrate record organisation, not expected household use or an energy price.

Using the record on moving day

Leave space in your moving day plan to find the meters and take readings safely before handing over access. If you cannot access a meter, record what prevented access and contact the supplier or property manager; do not invent a reading. A communal supply or a bill included in rent may need a different process.

For Northern Ireland, the Utility Regulator’s moving-home guidance explains the need to contact suppliers and provide moving readings. For an England move, Citizens Advice’s energy moving guide covers closing and opening readings. Follow the guidance and supplier process relevant to your location. Add the resulting bill, rather than a raw reading, to your household budget.

There is no typical reading or standard final bill that this tool can sensibly supply. Consumption, tariff terms and account credits differ. The useful starting point is a reliable dated record, followed by the supplier’s actual calculation.

How to use this tool

1. Identify each register. Create a separate row for every supply or register, using a property nickname that clearly separates your old home from your new one.

1. Copy the reading. Enter the date, time, digits and displayed unit. Keep the original photograph separately if you take one, and use notes to explain anything unusual.

1. Submit and reconcile. Send readings through the relevant supplier’s process. Export your record and use it to check the opening or final bill when that arrives.

Frequently asked questions

Does saving a reading notify my supplier?

No. Saving updates your Movers Guide record only. Submit the reading directly to the supplier and retain their confirmation; your note can record when you did that.

Can I use this for a smart meter?

Yes, as a manual record of the reading you obtain. The tool does not connect to a smart meter or check whether automatic readings reached the supplier.

Why is there no final bill estimate?

A reliable bill needs tariff, standing-charge, account and billing-period information that this form does not collect. Use the supplier’s bill and investigate discrepancies against your dated records.