Last Updated on 2 months by David Bergmann
Especially in times like these, when you have to pay particularly close attention to your electricity and gas consumption, it is essential to check the meter readings the day of the move. This ensures that you are only billed for the energy you have actually consumed and not your previous tenant or next tenant!
In any case, you should always take a look at your electricity and gas meters. This is the only way you can check your consumption and, if necessary, introduce energy-saving measures in good time before the next annual bill.
In the following article, we explain what you need to bear in mind when reading the meter in your old and new home.
1. Read the electricity meter
The electricity meter is located either directly in your apartment or in a generally accessible part (e.g. corridor or utility room). For self-reading, you usually need a special key to open the meter box. If you do not have this, it is best to ask your landlord or the property management company responsible for the property.
Make sure that you make a note of the meter readings for your old apartment at the latest when you hand over the keys. The same applies to your new address; here too, the meter readings must be taken before you move, at the latest on the day you move.
To find the right electricity meter that belongs to your home, you need the “meter number ” (also known as the “meter point number”). This is a unique identification of the electricity or gas tapping point. If you do not know the meter number, you can ask your energy supplier or check your electricity bill.
You will then need the so-called “electricity meter reading” to read the electricity consumption. As this is not automatically reset when you move in or out, but simply continues to run, you must inform your electricity provider of the current meter reading when you move.
As you know, electricity consumption is billed per kilowatt hour, so you will find the kilowatt hours consumed to date on the meter display. The last digit (decimal place) is always framed in red.
Smart Meter – The intelligent electricity meter
Many households in Switzerland have already switched to the so-called “smart meter” . If you are unsure whether the supply area in which your home is located has been equipped with smart meters, it is best to contact your energy supplier’s customer service.
The digital electricity meter transmits your consumption data directly to your energy supplier. This eliminates the need for self-reading or meter reading by a technician. Another advantage is that you can always keep an eye on your electricity consumption via the online customer portal and can also monitor energy-saving measures yourself.
Tip: Don’t forget to inform your energy supplier of your change of address. You can register your move directly with your electricity or gas provider or simply use the Change of address service from Relock .
2. Read the heat meter
Depending on how you heat your home, you must also read off the heat or heating consumption. If you heat your home with electricity or a heat pump, this step is not necessary as you only have one energy supplier, namely the electricity provider.
Gas heating
If there is gas heating in your home, you must read the gas consumption at the gas meter. Like the electricity meter, the gas meter is located either directly in your apartment or in the stairwell, utility room or cellar. You will also need the meter number and the meter reading.
You can find the current gas consumption, as well as the electricity consumption, in a small viewing window, which has a movable counter. Next to it you will find the unit of measurement (m3) in which your consumption is measured.
Please note: Although the gas consumption is stated in cubic meters, you will be billed for consumption in kilowatt hours! Your energy provider uses a formula for conversion, which you should find on their website.
District heating
Like electricity, the energy consumption of district heating is calculated in kWh or MWh and can be read using a calibrated heat meter. This also has a meter number that uniquely identifies your heating system. You can usually find this directly on the inspection window of your district heating meter.
Regardless of how you heat your home or which electricity products you use: Always remember to take meter readings at your new home as well as at your old address.
3. Read the water meter
In addition to the meter readings for electricity and gas/district heating, the water meter must also be read when moving house.
This is usually located in the kitchen or bathroom of the apartment (or in the utility room in a detached house). Water consumption is measured in cubic meters (m³) or liters.
There are various procedures in Switzerland regarding the responsibility for reading the water consumption in the event of a change of tenant – depending on the tenancy agreement and the local laws.
As a rule, it is the tenant’s responsibility to read the water consumption when moving out and to inform the landlord or the relevant management company. This serves to ensure that the tenant only pays for the consumption caused by him and not for the consumption of the subsequent tenant.
However, it is important to check the rental agreement , in order to determine who is responsible for reading the water consumption. The landlord or management company may want to check the meter reading when you move in and out to ensure that consumption is billed correctly.
We recommend that you contact your landlord or the relevant property management company directly if you are unsure of the exact procedures and responsibilities.
When handing over the apartment, be sure to take a photo of the meter readings for documentation purposes. This way you are on the safe side in case there are any ambiguities or errors in the next billing.
Tip: Are you moving for the first time and want to be optimally prepared? Here you will find a list of all the things you need to consider when moving out!
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