How to Manually Top Up British Gas Electric Meter

So, you've found yourself in the dark—literally—and it's time to top up your British Gas electric meter. Whether you're a fan of the old-school approach or your smart meter is having a moment, knowing how to manually top up your British Gas electric meter is a handy skill. Let's shed some light on the process.

Identifying Your Meter Type

First things first, determine which type of meter you have:

• Smart Meter (Landis+Gyr E470): Features a digital display with buttons labeled 'A' and 'B'.​

• Traditional Prepayment Meter: Typically has a key or card for topping up.​

Manually Topping Up a Smart Meter (Landis+Gyr E470)

If your smart meter hasn't automatically updated after a top-up, you can manually enter the 20-digit code (UTRN) from your receipt:

1.      Access the 'Add Credit' Screen:

• Press button 'A' repeatedly until 'Add credit' appears.​

2.      Enter the Top-Up Code:

• Press button 'B' to enter the code entry screen.

• Use button 'A' to scroll through numbers (0-9) for each digit.

• Press 'B' to confirm each digit and move to the next.​

3.      Confirm the Code:

• After entering all 20 digits, press and hold 'B' to submit.​

• If successful, your meter will display a confirmation message.​

Note: If you receive an error message, double-check the code and re-enter it. After five incorrect attempts, the meter will lock you out for an hour. ​

Manually Topping Up a Traditional Prepayment Meter

For those with a traditional meter:

1.      Obtain a Top-Up Card:

• If you don't have one, contact British Gas to request a card.​

2.      Add Credit to Your Card:

• Visit a local Payzone or Post Office with your card to add funds. ​

3.      Transfer Credit to Your Meter:

• Insert the topped-up card into your meter.​

• The meter should automatically update with the new credit.​

Note: If the credit doesn't transfer, remove and reinsert the card. Persistent issues may require contacting British Gas customer support.​

Activating Emergency Credit

If you're unable to top up and your credit is running low, you can activate £10 of emergency credit:​

1.      On a Smart Meter:

• Press 'A' to access the menu.

• Navigate to 'Emergency Credit' and press 'B' to activate.​

2.      On a Traditional Meter:

• Insert your key or card into the meter.​

• Follow the on-screen prompts to accept emergency credit.​

Remember: Emergency credit must be repaid on your next top-up, along with any standing charges accrued.

Conclusion                     

Knowing how to manually top up your British Gas electric meter ensures you're never left in the dark. Whether you're entering a code into a smart meter or topping up a traditional meter, these steps will help keep your home powered. If you encounter any issues, don't hesitate to contact British Gas customer support for assistance.