HOUSEHOLDS have been urged to check their smart meter when the clocks change next weekend or risk a sting on their energy bills.
Homes on Economy 7 tariffs could find themselves out of sync with their tariff when clocks spring forward later this month.
Smart meters may not automatically update when the clocks change, said experts from comparison site MoneySuperMarket.
On these schemes, off-peak hours are set by energy suppliers when energy can cost up to 50% less than peak rates.
Households on these tariffs time running appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, or hot water tanks on timers to match the cheaper rates and keep energy bills lower.
The clocks spring forward by an hour at 1am on 29 March 2026, as the country moves from Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to British Summer Time (BST).
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But the risk is that homes could be charged peak rates during what they believe are off-peak hours if their meter has not updated.
The off-peak hours set by energy suppliers automatically shift to reflect the new time.
All Economy 7 households should check their meter and adjust appliance timers after every clock change.
If your meter hasn’t updated, manually shift appliance timers to align with the correct off-peak window until your supplier is able to resolve the issue.
If you’re unsure, contact your energy supplier.
Off-peak hours are usually set between around midnight and 7am, though exact times vary by supplier and during this time, energy can cost up to 50% less.
You can check supplier’s website to confirm their specific window.
MoneySuperMarket’s energy expert, Kara Gammell, said: “If your meter hasn’t updated automatically, there could be a mismatch between the off‑peak hours your meter is recording and the times your supplier is actually charging for – and these may differ by more than you realise.
“While it might only be an hour’s difference, that gap can gradually add up, especially if you’re using this time to run energy-intensive appliances during what you believe to be your cheaper-rate window.
“A quick check costs nothing, and if something doesn’t look right, your supplier can usually update the settings remotely or arrange an engineer visit if needed.”
If you notice your energy bills creeping up after a clock change, it could be a sign that your meter is out of sync.
Report it to your supplier as soon as possible.
