Skip to main content
White meters

White meters explained

Do you have a white meter, or are you on a white meter tariff? White meters offer a very real alternative to traditional energy meters but how do they work, and are they right for you?

Take back control of your energy bills with uSwitch!

We make it easy to compare and save up to £679

Most of us are familiar with our gas or electricity meter and how it works, counting the amount of energy you use. But what if your meter was split between two different types of energy, and charged at different rates?

What are white meters?

White meters are a special kind of energy meter that offer a different way of consuming energy. A white meter works by offering a distinct tariff for energy consumption at different times, which, if used correctly, can mean big savings.

White meters are commonly known as Economy 7 meters in England, and they ensure that you are offered one rate during the day and another for your use during the night, or at off-peak times.

Like an Economy 7 tariff, a white meter requires a different kind of meter to be installed at your property, which can cost money. This means white meter tariffs can also be difficult to switch to and from.

White meters can offer a great solution to rising energy costs, but their suitability very much depends on your consumption patterns, and the type of property you live in.

How is a white meter charged?

A white meter uses two different meters showing two different readings – one to show your normal consumption and one to show your off-peak consumption.

As such your bills will feature two different unit rates, and two different fees, which will, together with any standing charges, make up the totality of your bill.

The unit rates and standing charges will vary from company to company, as will the starting hours for off-peak rates. The standard off-peak times are usually between 11pm and 6am, 12pm and 7am, or 1am and 8am. Some white meter tariffs may have longer periods of off-peak pricing.

How can I tell if I’m on a white meter?

The easiest way to tell if you’re on a white meter is to look at your latest energy bill. If you see two different readings on your bill and two different supply numbers, then you could be on a white meter.

If you’re not sure you can always call your energy supplier to check. Alternatively you could look for your meter point access number, or MPAN. White meters will have an MPAN starting with the numbers ‘02’.

White meters

Switching from white meters

As white meters require a special, secondary meter to be installed and wired to your standard meter, there are some installation costs that will have to be taken into account when switching to a white meter.

However, even if you don’t yet have a white meter installed you can still get a cost estimate using uSwitch. Just start our energy price comparison, pick any supplier or tariff, and answer yes to the question ‘Do you have an Economy 7 meter’? Then, as long as you enter your energy usage details correctly, we can show you the best white meter tariff.

If you already have a white meter and want to switch to a standard meter you will have to call your electricity provider. Switching to a standard meter may require installation costs, and you might have to fulfil certain criteria.

Is a white meter right for me?

The concept behind a white meter is great, but it only works if you take advantage of the cheaper off-peak tariffs for the majority of your energy usage.

From a structural point of view your house will need a storage heater, so you can heat your hot water and heater during the evening, when the tariffs are cheaper, and use your energy during the day or in the evening.

It is also important that you have suitable appliances with timer systems set on them. If for example your washing machine doesn’t have a timer and you’re forced to use it during the day, a large portion of your savings will immediately be lost.

The same goes for your energy using habits. A white meter suits people who like to use the majority of their energy in the evening. The golden rule is if you use 40% or more of your energy at night, a white meter might be worth considering.

Likewise you have to be the kind of person who doesn’t mind cooler water in the evenings. A white meter will heat most of your water at night and store it in a storage heater. That means your water will be hottest first thing in the morning, and coolest in the evening.

Finally you should note that most white meter tariffs will charge a slightly higher daytime charge compared to a standard tariff, so if your usage patterns are unpredictable they could end up costing you more.

Make sure you don't pay too much

Whether you opt for a white meter or not you should always make sure you are getting the right price for your gas and electricity. The only way you can do that is to run regular and accurate energy comparisons to compare your deal to others in your area.

To run an energy comparison simply go to our main energy switching page. All you need is five minutes and a recent energy bill to hand.

For the most accurate results we always recommend you use your usage in kWh, rather than your spend in pounds. The amount you spend on energy depends entirely on what plan you are on, as much as the amount you use. If however you use your consumption details in kWh then we can give you the most accurate comparison possible.

With hundreds of pounds difference between the cheapest and most expensive tariff you should run regular energy comparisons to make sure you're not paying too much for your gas and electricity.

Read more…

  • Economy 7 plans are a way to take advantage of off-peak rates
  • Economy 10 These special plans are designed to take advantage of off-peak rates
  • Gas Electricity Meter Reading Taking an accurate meter reading is the key to getting accurate bills

Take back control of your energy bills with uSwitch!

We make it easy to compare and save up to £679