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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Ellie Kemp

Martin Lewis issues meter reading advice on Good Morning Britain

Martin Lewis appeared on ITV's Good Morning Britain on Thursday (September 29) and shared his advice on electricity meter readings.

The MoneySavingExpert outlined who should and shouldn't take a meter reading ahead of the price cap increase this weekend. The cap, which regulates the amount that 24 million households pay for their gas and electricity, will increase to £3,549 per year for an average household from Saturday (October 1).

Speaking to hosts Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid about when to take the reading, he said: "Do it today, do it tomorrow, do it the next day. Most firms let you submit the reading - so take the reading today - but you can submit for up to a week.

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"And in some cases up to two weeks after the date. So if you can't get through, don't worry about it, do it a couple of days later."

Martin continued: "You don't need to do a reading by the way, if you're on a smart meter that works, a prepayment meter, or you're on a very cheap fix where the price won't be changing. So everybody else should be getting a meter reading.

"But if you've got a working smart meter, you don't need to. But I'd get your meter reading done in the next few days and submit it in the next week or so".

Martin also said that by doing a meter reading around the time prices are changing puts people in a position where there should be 'no discrepancies.'

The price cap increase means the yearly gas and electricity bill for the average household will rise by more than 80 percent, from £1,971. Energy bills will be around £2,300 more than a year earlier.

The new price cap will last for three months from October 1. But from January, analysts expect the cap to rise again to £4,200.

But earlier this month, Prime Minister Liz Truss announced a new energy price guarantee which will hold average household bills to no more than £2,500 for the next two years running up to a general election.

The Energy Price Guarantee, which supersedes the Ofgem energy price cap, will limit the price that suppliers can charge customers for units of gas. Meanwhile, a similar scheme will be in place for businesses, schools, hospitals, other public organisations and charities. While it will "offer equivalent support", it will only last for six months.

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