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EnergyAustralia Communications Team
October 2026
Got a bill that looks estimated? Reading your own meter takes a few minutes and means you only pay for the energy you’ve actually used.
Who can submit a reading
If you’ve received an estimated bill and you don’t have a smart meter, you can submit your own reading.
Why bills get estimated
Sometimes a meter reader can’t get to your meter. A locked gate, a dog on guard or bad weather can all get in the way. When that happens, your bill is based on an estimate instead of real usage. A self reading fixes that, and it’s a good way to see how much energy your home is using.
Step 1: find your meter
Meters can be in a few different spots:
- on an outside wall
- in a meter box near the street
- inside your garage or laundry
- in a shared cupboard, if you live in an apartment
Not sure where yours is? Your bill or online account can help. Make sure the area is safe and easy to get to before you start.
Step 2: check your meter type
Most homes have one of these:
- a digital electricity meter, with numbers on a screen
- a dial meter, with a row of small clock-style dials
- a gas meter, which shows usage in cubic metres
Here’s how to read each one.
Digital meter: read the numbers from left to right and write down every digit on the screen.
Dial meter: read the dials from left to right. If a pointer sits between two numbers, write down the lower one.
Gas meter: write down only the whole numbers before the decimal point and ignore anything after it.
Tip: take a quick photo of your meter once you’ve got your reading. It’s handy for double checking later.
Step 3: double check your numbers
Before you submit, look over what you’ve written down. One wrong digit can throw your bill out, so it’s worth a second look.
Step 4: submit your reading online
Ready to go? Submit your meter reading.
You’ll need to enter your details, your reading and the date you took it. Take the reading and submit it on the same day so the date is right.
What happens next
Once we receive your reading, we’ll calculate a revised bill and send it to you. You only need to pay for what you’ve used.
You might notice your reading still shows as an estimated read on the new bill. That’s because we’re required to bill in regular billing periods, so we line your reading up with the dates on your original bill.
Had a few estimated bills in a row?
We’ll work out your average daily usage from the reading you’ve just sent in. If you’ve had more than one estimated bill before submitting, we’ll adjust those bills going back up to:
- four months in Victoria
- nine months in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and South Australia
If any of those adjustments leave you with a credit, it carries forward to your latest revised bill.
If you’ve had several estimated bills, get in touch with us on 133 466 and we’ll organise a time for your meter to be read. Your meter should be read at least once every 12 months, so you only pay for the energy you use.
A tip for gas customers in the Jemena region
If Jemena owns the gas meters and pipes in your area, you can send your gas readings straight to them through their Gas Meter Mate app. It helps avoid estimated readings in the first place. Not sure who your distributor is? You can check on the Australian Energy Regulator website.
A few minutes that make a difference
A self reading keeps your bill accurate and gives you a clearer picture of your usage. Next time your bill looks off, grab a pen, check your meter and send us your reading.
