How to read your gas or electricity meter ahead of major energy bills hike

People have been urged to take readings of their gas and electricity today ahead of tomorrow's price increase which will see costs rise by up to 54 per cent after the energy price cap - the maximum suppliers can charge.

It means as of April 1, people in England, Scotland and Wales could be paying as much as £700 more for their energy usage. The rising cost has meant Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis has already advised people to read their meters today to make sure they don't pay too much for supplies used before the hike starts.

Those with a smart meter do not have to do anything but everyone else is advised to give their supplier proof of how much energy was used under the old price to stop paying any unnecessary cost.

READ MORE: E.On apologises for 'ill-considered' Martin Lewis tweet as it issues update for customers taking meter readings

Martin Lewis has also warned people not to break the law by trying to con the energy companies with false readings. He said on Twitter: "Many asking me Q. Can I give a falsely inflated meter reading on 31 March - so I get more at the cheap rate that I use in April? A. That's called fraud I'm afraid."

But with a range of different meters it can be difficult to be sure you are doing it right. Citizens Advice have come up with a handy guide on how to tackle each one.

A digital meter has an electronic or digital display. It will show 5 numbers in black or white, and might be followed by 1 or more red numbers.

To read the meter:

If you get cheaper electricity at certain times, you might have a two rate (or ‘dual-rate’) meter. This means it will have 2 rows of numbers.

The top row (labelled ‘low’ or ‘night’) shows how many units of cheaper electricity you’ve used.

The bottom row