Genuine meter faults are less common than most people assume. Most “my bill has doubled” cases turn out to be something else: a new appliance no one quite registered, a direct debit set too low for a year, or estimated readings finally catching up with reality. That said, meters do go wrong, and the symptoms are usually recognisable.
This page covers how to tell if your energy meter isn’t working properly, the at-home checks for electricity and gas, and what to do if you still suspect a fault.
If you smell gas at any point, stop reading and call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Common signs of a faulty energy meter
A faulty energy meter usually announces itself in one of a few ways:
- Unexplained jumps in usage with no change in habits or appliances.
- Bills noticeably higher than comparable-sized households in your region.
- An electricity meter that runs visibly hot, hums, clicks, or smells of burning.
- A digital display that is blank, flickering, frozen, or showing error codes.
- A smart meter stuck in dumb mode, not sending readings, or showing figures that disagree with the in-home display.
- For gas: a dial or digital reading that moves when nothing is drawing gas. A smell of gas near the meter is a safety issue, not a billing one. Call 0800 111 999 first.
A single warm spot or a single high bill is not proof of a fault. A combination of signs is more telling.
How to check if your electricity meter is faulty (the creep test)
The creep test is the quickest way to check if your meter is faulty. It costs nothing and takes about fifteen minutes.
- Turn off every appliance in the house. That includes standby items, the fridge and freezer, the boiler, anything on a clock.
- Go to the consumer unit (the fuse box) and switch off the main switch so no current is flowing into the property.
- Watch the meter for at least ten to fifteen minutes. On a digital meter the kWh reading should not advance. On an older spinning-disc meter the disc should be still.
If the meter is still registering usage with the main switch off, that strongly suggests a fault. Note the readings before and after.
For a second sanity check, run the appliance test. Switch the main supply back on, leave everything else off, and run one known appliance for a measured period. A 3kW kettle run for six minutes should register roughly 0.3 kWh. Allow some leeway. Kettles and meters all have small tolerances.
Don’t open the meter. Don’t pull off the seals. Suppliers treat broken seals as tampering.
How to check if your gas meter is faulty (the burn test)
Gas burn tests are less precise than electricity checks, because most households cannot accurately measure gas flow against a known appliance usage rate. But they can still help confirm whether the gas meter is linked to the right property.
- Turn off every gas appliance in the house. Boiler, hob, oven, gas fire, anything that draws gas.
- Watch the meter for at least five minutes with nothing on. A dial meter should not move. A digital meter should not advance.
- If it does move, that suggests either a leak or a meter fault. Both need professional attention.
If at any point you smell gas, hear hissing near the meter, or feel light-headed, leave the property and call 0800 111 999. Do not turn anything electrical on or off. Do not call your supplier first. The emergency service is free and runs 24 hours.
Compare the meter, in-home display, and bill
For smart meter households, three numbers should broadly agree: the reading on the meter itself, the in-home display (IHD), and the consumption on the latest bill. If they don’t, the most likely culprits are a communications hub problem or a smart meter stuck in dumb mode.
Useful first step: take a manual reading directly from the meter, submit it through your supplier’s app, and ask them to update the account. Many “faulty meter” cases turn out to be reading-transmission issues that resolve once a manual reading lands. Ofgem notes that even a smart meter that has dropped out of smart mode will still record usage accurately.
Quick reference: at-home checks
| Meter type | Check | Working meter | Possible fault |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Creep test (main switch off) | Reading stays still | Reading continues to climb |
| Electricity | Appliance test | Rises in line with appliance wattage | Rises far faster or slower than expected |
| Gas | Burn test (all gas off) | Dial or display does not move | Dial moves with nothing on |
| Smart meter | Meter vs IHD vs bill | All three broadly agree | Large persistent disagreement |
What to do if you still think the meter is faulty
Contact your supplier in writing, by email or via the app, describing the symptoms and any checks you’ve already done. Include photos and any error codes. The supplier is responsible for the meter and will normally arrange an initial investigation.
If you remain unhappy after that, you can request a formal meter accuracy test. For electricity, this is overseen by the Office for Product Safety and Standards and carried out by independent examiners. The on-site test itself is free. Suppliers can charge for removing the meter and fitting a replacement if it turns out to be working correctly. Costs vary by supplier and typically sit in the region of £150 to £200 as of 2026. Confirm the figure with your supplier before you commit.
UK accuracy tolerances are defined in law. Electricity meters must register within +2.5% and -3.5% of true consumption. Gas meters must register within +/- 2%. A meter outside those limits is deemed faulty and replaced free of charge. Industry data over many years shows the large majority of disputed electricity meters are working within tolerance. Gas meters fail more often, but genuine faults are still the minority of disputed cases.
If a meter is found faulty, the supplier should refund any overcharges and correct your account. Where the supplier was at fault for inaccurate billing, the back-billing rule applies: under Ofgem rules in force since May 2018, suppliers cannot recover charges for energy used more than 12 months ago in those circumstances.
Safety first for gas
Any smell of gas, hissing near the meter or pipework, or suspected leak: call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999. Open windows and doors, leave the property, do not switch lights or appliances on or off, do not use a phone inside the house. Billing concerns can wait. Safety cannot.
FAQ
How do I know if my electricity meter is faulty?
Run the creep test. Turn off the main switch at the consumer unit and watch the meter. If it still registers usage with no power flowing into the property, the meter is very likely faulty. Other warning signs include a meter that runs hot, hums, clicks, or shows a blank or error-code display.
How do I know if my gas meter is faulty?
Turn off every gas appliance and watch the meter for five minutes. The dial or display should not move. If it does, either there’s a leak or the meter is faulty. A suspected leak is a safety issue. Call 0800 111 999 first.
What is a creep test on an electricity meter?
A simple at-home check. With the main switch turned off, no electricity is flowing into the property, so an accurate meter should not register any usage. If the reading still climbs, that points to a fault.
What is a burn test on a gas meter?
The gas equivalent of the creep test. With every gas appliance off, an accurate meter should not record any flow. Any movement suggests either a leak or a fault.
How accurate do UK energy meters have to be?
Electricity meters must register within +2.5% and -3.5% of true consumption. Gas meters must register within +/- 2%. A meter found outside those limits is treated as faulty and replaced.
Who pays for a meter accuracy test?
The on-site test itself is free. If the meter turns out to be working correctly, your supplier can charge for removing and replacing it, typically in the £150 to £200 range as of 2026. Confirm with your supplier before booking. If the meter is faulty, you don’t pay.
What happens if my meter is found to be faulty?
The supplier replaces it free of charge, refunds any overcharges, and corrects your account. Where the supplier was at fault for inaccurate billing, the back-billing rule prevents them recovering charges for energy used more than 12 months before the corrected bill.
My smart meter reading does not match my in-home display. What does that mean?
Usually a communications issue rather than a meter fault. Take a manual reading from the meter, submit it to your supplier, and ask them to investigate.