Millions of households across the UK have been urged to take a meter reading before midnight on Tuesday to avoid paying higher energy bills.
The Ofgem energy price cap is increasing by 13% on Wednesday July 1, with the bill for a typical household rising from £1,641 to £1,862.
Households who do not submit up-to-date meter readings risk having some of their June usage charged at the new, more expensive rates - which could impact the estimated 5.3 million households on standard tariffs who do not have a smart meter.
Taking a reading before the price cap changes could help ensure energy used before July 1 is charged at the lower rate rather than the higher prices that come into effect from Tuesday.
Those with a smart meter will not be affected, as they should send regular readings to your supplier for you.
The step up in prices reflects the spike in global energy market prices caused by the war on Iran.
Money saving expert Martin Lewis said: "When I first did this, I suggested meter reading day and I crashed virtually every energy site.
"You can backdate, go and get a meter reading. For belt and braces, you can take a picture of the meter."
Gareth Kloet, energy expert at Go Compare, said: “The extra cost of a single load of washing or one oven cycle may only be a few pence, but households use energy constantly and across lots of different appliances.
“That is why taking a meter reading on 30 June is so important. It helps make sure your supplier has an accurate record of the energy you used before the new, higher rates come in, rather than estimating your usage and potentially applying the wrong rate to part of your bill.”
Ben Gallizzi, an energy expert at the price comparison website Uswitch, said that people on standard tariffs should also look for a cheaper deal.
He said: “There are currently 27 fixed deals available that are cheaper than July’s price cap.”
The price cap will remain in place until October. Ofgem will announce the price cap for October on or by August 26.
