Guidance

National regulation: gas and electricity meters

Ensuring that meters register the correct quantity of gas and electricity consumed.

From:
Office for Product Safety and Standards
Published
13 March 2014
Last updated
22 July 2014 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is only responsible for gas and electricity metering accuracy and complaints about billing should firstly be directed to the supplier concerned. The Citizens Advice consumer service can assist you with this and provide independent advice on energy supply. If your supplier is unable to resolve your dispute then the Energy Ombudsman can investigate.

Billing purposes

Any gas or electricity meter used for the purpose of billing, whether by a licensed energy supplier or a landlord, must be of an approved design. All domestic and smaller industrial/commercial metering applications are covered by this requirement and only meter types that operate to defined accuracy and performance requirements will be approved.

Meter approval

The approval of meter types under GB national legislation is carried out by OPSS or an equivalent EC member state body. Since 2006, meters have also been approved under the European Measuring Instruments Directive (MID 2014/32/EU - previously 2004/22/EC). The MID enables a ‘European Type Approval Certificate’ to be issued and the instrument can then be used in any EU member state.

Your gas and electricity meter at home should either be approved under GB national legislation or the MID.

Gas meters

The use and performance of gas meters is governed by Section 17 of the Gas Act 1986 and supporting legislation in the form of Statutory Instruments (SI). The key documents are:

The Gas Act 1986

The provisions set out in the Gas Act 1986 have the effect that:

‘No meter shall be used for the purpose of ascertaining the quantity of gas supplied through pipes to any person unless it is stamped either by, or on the authority of, a meter examiner appointed by the Secretary of State.’

In addition, a meter cannot be stamped unless it is of an approved pattern and construction.

This requirement applies to all meters for domestic, commercial and light industrial billing (i.e. meters up to a maximum flow rate of 1,600 cubic metres per hour at standard conditions of temperature and pressure).

Electricity meters

The use and performance of electricity meters is governed by Schedule 7 of the Electricity Act 1989 and supporting legislation in the form of Statutory Instruments (SI). The key documents are the:

The Electricity Act 1989

It is a requirement under Schedule 7 of the Electricity Act 1989 that all meters (i.e. primary and secondary) used for billing purposes must be of an approved pattern or construction and installed in an approved manner.

Schedule 4

Prior to October 2006 electricity meters were approved under GB national legislation and a list of approved meters is available from Schedule 4 (this list is commonly referred to as ‘Schedule 4’ as this list is a requirement under Schedule 4 of the Meters (Certification) Regulations (SI 1998/1566)).

Certification

Schedule 7 of the Electricity Act 1989 also requires that meters are certified, although this requirement is not applicable to meters installed in non-domestic premises or for secondary meters (e.g. in a landlord-tenant situation). However, where certification is not required, there must be an agreement, in writing, between the supplier and consumer to dispense with certification and the meter is still required to be approved (i.e. for billing purposes it is not possible to dispense with the requirements for approval).

Unmetered supplies of electricity

Meter accuracy

If you believe your gas or electricity meter is inaccurate, you should always contact your supplier. The legislation does allow for you to have your gas meter or your electricity meter independently tested.

FIT meters

The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme is administered by Ofgem. In some cases, meters have been affected by the installation of renewable electricity generating equipment, causing the meter to be inaccurate.

Contact us

If you have a specific enquiry regarding the accuracy of your gas and/or electricity meter, please email OPSS.enquiries@businessandtrade.gov.uk.

Alternatively you can contact the OPSS helpdesk on 0121 345 1201, open Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17.00.

Or in writing to:

Office for Product Safety and Standards
4th Floor Cannon House
18 The Priory Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6BS

Updates to this page

Published 13 March 2014
Last updated 22 July 2014 + show all updates

  1. NMO is only responsible for electricity and gas metering accuracy and complaints about billing should firstly be directed to the supplier concerned. The Citizens Advice consumer service can assist you with this and provide independent advice on energy supply. If your supplier is unable to resolve your dispute then the Energy Ombudsman can investigate.

  2. First published.

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