A burns test is a way of checking whether your energy meters are properly tracking your energy use, or to see which meter is connected to your address. You can conduct one for gas or electricity meters, or both, if you need to.
Here's how to conduct a burns test:
- Take a photo of the meter that clearly shows the MSN (meter serial number) and the current meter reading.
- Then use as much energy as possible for the next 15 minutes. If you need to test your electricity meter, use electricity, and if you're checking the gas meter, use as much gas as possible.
- For electricity: put on the hair dryer, plug all of your devices in, boil a full kettle a few times, turn the TV and any other appliances on.
- For gas: Light all of the hobs on the stove, have a hot shower or fill the bath, put the heating on, etc.
- Take another photo of the meter, clearly showing the MSN and meter reading.
- Switch off all appliances for 15 mins.
- Take another photo of the meter, again showing the MSN and meter reading clearly.
- This should show your energy usage for the first test and the meter should barely move with all appliances switched off. This would be considered a successful burns test.
- Send all 3 photos to us by email, making it clear which photo is which. You should have:
- A photo taken just before the burns test.
- A photo right after the burns test.
- A photo after appliances have been off for 15 minutes.
- If there's more than one meter in a communal area, like in a flat, you may need to take all three pictures of all meters to figure out which one is connected to your address.