Martin Lewis has shared the best time to give a meter reading ahead of price changes on April 1. From April 1, the new energy price cap will come into effect with prices falling on average by 12%. Despite an improvement, Mr Lewis said energy was "still hideously costly." In the latest money saving expert newsletter, he wrote: "This Price Cap dictates the rates most people pay for energy." He added: "In simple terms, it means on average for every £100 you currently pay, you'll pay £88 from Monday." This week, people without smart meters are being urged to take meter readings ahead of April, and the money saving expert has shared the best time to do it. In his latest , Mr Lewis said: "Meter reading week is primarily for those who pay by monthly direct debit. The reason you need to do it is because the price is going to drop on April 1." He went on to say those who do not do it, it would be down to the company. He added: "I recommend anyone who doesn't have a working smart meter to do a reading at some point in the next week." Mr Lewis said the "perfect time" would be at five minutes to midnight on Sunday, March 31, however he urged people to not crash the websites as he said: "As long as you do it in a week it's just not going to make a big difference." The money saving expert team have also put together everything you need to know, including when to take a meter reading. Advice reads: "To avoid being charged more than you should, it's a good idea to give a meter reading to your supplier as soon as possible to avoid a dispute over what you used before and after prices changed." The financial experts say it is best to give a meter reading to your supplier on or around Monday, April 1, however, if you have a working smart meter or you are on prepay, you don't need to do anything. For those who do need to take a reading, the newsletter added: "Yet if all of us rush to do this on the same day, it can lead to suppliers' websites crashing and phone lines becoming jammed, which can affect vulnerable people. "To avoid that, you can give a reading a few days after and any discrepancy should be minor. Or, some firms let you backdate your reading, so if you take the actual meter reading now, note it down, but then submit it at a later date." For example,
British Gas will backdate meter readings until April 14, EDF Energy will backdate until April 7 and E.on Next will backdate up to a week after April 1. According to the money saving expert team: "The easiest way is to take a picture of your meters, so you have the readings to hand. Then you can log in to your online account or to a web form on your provider's site to enter the readings. "Most also let you send readings via text message, or through mobile apps such as
WhatsApp. You can also call them up – most have automated telephone lines where you can give the readings, to save you joining a queue or clogging up the lines for those who need help." More information about meter readings can be found .