Let’s decode your energy bill together

Energy bills can be confusing. This page explains the parts of a bill in simple words. When you understand your bill, you can spot mistakes, find ways to save, and ask for help if you need it.

What is an energy bill?

The bill is a document that shows:

The time it covers (billing period)

How much energy you used (consumption)

How much you must pay
(total cost)

Guide to the first page

Usually the bill is made up of several pages.
Most bills put the most important information on the first page. Look here first.

Click to start

Read your electricity bill with confidence, so you know exactly what you’re paying for and where you might be able to save.

The logo

The company that supplies your energy.

Account number

The number that identifies your contract. Often you may find the name and surname of the account holder.

Your address

Where the energy is supplied or the bill is sent

The billing period

The dates that the bill covers. It could range from one month up to a year. Usually you will see the start and end dates.

The cost of the energy / electricity

How much you have to pay to your energy supplier.

This cost could also be broken down into different items such as the cost of energy, taxes, other costs, TV licence fee, etc.

The energy consumption

How much energy you used in the billing period.

For electricity, consumption is usually measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
For gas, consumption is usually measured in standard cubic metres.

Payment due date and methods:

When you must pay the bill and how you can pay it.

Terms to know

kWh = kilowatt-hour: unit used to measure electricity.
Meter Numbers (MN) = is a unique code that identifies the exact point where electricity is collected and delivered to the end customer, functioning as a “tax code” for the electricity/energy user. You may need this code if you want to change your energy supplier.
Estimated reading = when the bill uses an estimated meter reading instead of a real one.