MeterPilotDay and Night Meter Readings: How to Keep Peak and Off-Peak Registers Separate
Identify multi-rate registers, record both consistently, and avoid adding or swapping values before checking the provider’s labels.
The short answer
A multi-rate electricity meter keeps two or more cumulative registers for different tariff periods. Record each register separately with its exact label. Never assume Rate 1 means day or Rate 2 means night—the mapping can vary by meter, provider, tariff and configuration.
Ofgem’s Economy 7 guidance explains the core idea: peak and off-peak use is recorded separately and charged at different rates. Your own provider's instructions determine the applicable hours and register names.
Labels you may encounter
- Rate 1 / Rate 2
- R1 / R2
- Day / Night
- Peak / Off-peak
- Normal / Low
- T1 / T2
- A register code defined by the provider
Some displays rotate automatically; others require a safe front-panel button press. Follow the meter/provider instructions and do not enter engineering menus.
Calculate each register before adding anything
Suppose the readings are:
| Register | Previous | Current | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rate 1 | 12,480 | 12,612 | 132 kWh |
| Rate 2 | 8,210 | 8,298 | 88 kWh |
Total measured interval usage is 132 + 88 = 220 kWh. The tariff applies money to those register usages separately. Do not add the cumulative current readings (12,612 + 8,298) and call that monthly usage.
How to learn which rate is which
Use the register mapping printed on the bill, provider portal or official meter guide. If it remains unclear, ask the provider to confirm in writing. Observing which register changes during a known period can support the question but should not replace the official mapping.
Seasonal clock changes, local schedules and equipment controlled by a separate circuit can make remembered “midnight to 7” rules unreliable.
Common expensive mistakes
Swapping the registers
The total consumption may still look plausible while the tariff allocation is wrong.
Recording only one register
The next complete reading appears to contain a huge jump because an entire register interval is missing.
Treating a live power screen as a register
A kW display changes with current load. The billing registers accumulate kWh.
Flattening both into one meter history
You lose the ability to see which cumulative value belongs to which time band.
A safe recording workflow
Name registers according to verified labels, preserve both previous values, and capture them at the same visit and timestamp. If MeterPilot represents them as separate meter/register records, keep their property and physical meter identity linked in the names or notes. Never infer a tariff saving solely from register totals; rates, standing charges and schedule rules remain provider facts.
Reserved until MeterPilot visibly preserves verified Rate 1 and Rate 2 identities and histories. No unrelated screenshot has been substituted.
Turn one observation into a trustworthy history.
MeterPilot keeps the previous value, timestamp and meter identity together so the next comparison has a reliable starting point.
See the MeterPilot workflow