Electricity Meter Reading and Usage Calculator

Who this is for

See what each stretch between readings used and cost. Write down the meter reading and the date, and the sheet works out the kWh used, the days since the last reading, the daily average and the cost at the unit rate and standing charge on your own bill.

Householders who read their own electricity meter, anyone checking an estimated bill, and people who want to see whether a change at home has cut their use.

What this helps you track

• The kWh used between one reading and the next
• How many days each reading covers and the kWh per day
• What each period cost in units and in standing charge at your rates
• Total kWh, total cost and the highest daily average so far

How to use it

1. Copy the supplier, MPAN and meter serial number from your bill so every reading is tied to the right meter.
2. Enter your unit rate per kWh and daily standing charge from the bill, in whole currency units such as 0.2451 rather than pence.
3. Write the date of your first reading in the header, then read the meter on a regular day and write each date and reading on a new line.
4. kWh used, days, kWh per day and the costs are worked out in the browser and the workbook; on paper, subtract the line above.
5. Note anything unusual, such as guests, a heatwave or a new appliance, so a high figure has an explanation.
6. When your tariff changes, start a new sheet with the new rates rather than mixing them on one.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser
• Excel / Google Sheets workbook

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The workbook uses plain formulas only — SUM, IF, COUNTIF and the like — so it opens in Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets without anything breaking, and every calculated cell is grey so you can see which figures it worked out.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

Where do the rates come from?

From your own bill or tariff details. No rates are supplied, because they differ by supplier, tariff, region and date. Enter them in the same currency unit as the cost columns, so pence become a decimal of a pound.

My meter shows two readings. Which do I use?

A two-rate meter shows a separate register for each rate. Use one sheet per register with that register's unit rate, and put the standing charge on only one of them so it is not counted twice.

Why does the first line show no usage?

The first reading is the starting point. Usage, days and cost are measured from the reading above, so the first line shows zero and real figures begin on the second line.

Does it replace my bill?

No. It is a check you keep yourself. If your figures and the bill disagree, compare the meter readings the supplier used with yours before raising it with them.