Meter Reading - Credit Meters

We need to check every customer's meter even if you're sending regular meter readings to your electricity supplier (who is my supplier?). We want to make sure the equipment's safe to use and we want to check meters are giving us accurate, up to date information. This way, we can be confident the bill you receive from your electricity suppliers are based on actual energy usage.

NIE Networks reads, tests and inspects the meters of all electricity customers in Northern Ireland. We do this every three months. Our readings will be passed to your electricity supply company (who is my supplier?) to help ensure that supplier’s bills to their customers are correct and up to date. We provide this service to all electricity suppliers in Northern Ireland.

SMS – If you have received an SMS from us, it is because we have been unable to gain access to your premises. Please reply to this SMS with your meter reading(s) and post code”.

Email – If you have received an email from us, it is because we have been unable to gain access to your premises.  Please provide your read using any of the 3 options in the email.

You bill is issued by your electricity supplier (who is my supplier?). This isn't something NIE Networks deals with. We are responsible for reading the electricity meters of all customers in Northern Ireland and we pass these on to your supplier who issues you with your bill.

There are lots of different types of meters. For help identifying and reading your meter, take a look at our meter reading guides

If your meter is easily accessible from the outside of your property we'll carry out your meter read visit and meter safety inspection without you being there. In some cases, we may not be able to gain access to your meter so we'll need to arrange an appointment that's convenient for you, but we will need you to be there.

We can't make appointments to read meters, however if you're not at home when we call, you can submit your own reading online.

At Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks), we read all electricity meter every three months. Our meter readers may visit your property between 8am and 8pm Monday to Friday or 9am to 1pm on Saturdays. If you are not at home when we call, we will leave you a card advising you when we will next be in your area.

We pass these readings on to your electricity supplier and they send you a bill. Some electricity suppliers will ask you to submit meter readings in between our visits. You can do this directly with them or with us. We will still call at your home or business even if you do give regular readings to your supplier.

Yes, you can provide your own meter reading by calling us on 03456 093030 or you can submit your reading online.

No. Due to the volume of home visits that our meter readers carry out every day, it is impossible to provide specific appointments. If you are not at home when the meter reader calls, they will leave a card advising you if they will be back in the area. Alternatively you can submit your own reading online or by phone.

If your electricity meter is inside your property or behind closed gates, our meter reader will contact you to ask for access. The meter reader will only need access to your meter for a couple of minutes to take the reading.

We will pass your meter read to your electricity supplier who will issue your bill. If you have a pay-as-you-go or keypad meter the information will be used to keep your account up to date.

Your keypad meter will be read by one of our meter readers. We work on behalf of all electricity suppliers.