How to Reset a Gas Meter

Resetting your gas meter is sometimes necessary when the supply has been interrupted, especially if you’re using a prepayment meter. It can also be required after topping up, fixing a fault, or having maintenance work carried out. While the process is usually simple, the method depends on the type of meter installed in your property. In most cases, only smart or prepayment meters will need a manual reset, while standard credit meters continue to work automatically unless disconnected for safety.

If your gas supply has stopped unexpectedly, or your meter is displaying an error message, a reset may restore service — but only if the issue has been resolved and it’s safe to do so.

Resetting a Prepayment Gas Meter

If you’re using a prepayment meter and your gas has gone off, the most common reason is running out of credit. After topping up your key or card, you may need to manually reset the meter to restore the supply. Most modern prepayment meters will display a message such as “Press A to restore supply” or “Gas Off – press button to turn on.”

Insert your topped-up card or key and follow the on-screen instructions. Typically, you’ll be asked to press a specific button, often labelled A or B, for a few seconds. The meter will run a few checks, and if there’s enough credit available and no faults present, your gas supply should come back on.

Resetting a Smart Gas Meter

Smart meters can sometimes lose connection with the supplier’s system or experience internal errors that cause the gas to shut off temporarily. If this happens, a reset is often required to restore the display or re-activate the supply. Look for any messages on the screen such as “Gas Off,” “Call for Help,” or “Press A to continue.”

Press the A or OK button until the screen changes. If prompted, confirm that it’s safe to restore the supply. In most cases, the meter will carry out a short test and then reconnect if no issues are found. If the meter remains unresponsive or continues to display an error, contact your supplier’s support line for further assistance.

What to Do If the Reset Doesn’t Work

If you’ve followed the reset instructions and your gas still hasn’t come back on, there may be a fault that needs to be fixed before the meter can be reset. Possible causes include low credit, a blocked valve, a gas leak, or an appliance drawing unsafe pressure levels. In some cases, smart meters may need to be manually reconnected by your supplier or reset remotely by an engineer.

Do not attempt to tamper with the meter or gas supply yourself. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, leave the property immediately and contact the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.

When You Shouldn’t Try to Reset the Meter

If your meter has been turned off by a gas engineer for safety reasons — for example, due to a suspected leak or faulty appliance — you must not attempt to reset or reactivate it until the issue has been professionally resolved. Doing so could be dangerous and may breach safety regulations. In these cases, only a Gas Safe registered engineer or your supplier can legally and safely restore your supply.

Similarly, if your meter is showing a tamper alert, blocked valve warning, or any unrecognised code, leave it alone and seek professional advice. Forcing a reset could damage the meter or delay resolution of the underlying fault.

Why Your Gas Meter May Need a Reset

Gas meters don’t usually require frequent resets unless there’s been an interruption in supply or a problem with the system. Prepayment meters, in particular, are designed to shut off automatically when credit runs out or if there’s a suspected issue with pressure, flow, or tampering. A reset is typically a way to confirm that conditions are safe again and to restore service once the problem has been resolved — whether that’s topping up the meter, restoring communication with your energy supplier, or confirming that a repair has been completed.

Smart meters, although designed to update and reconnect automatically, can sometimes lose sync with the supplier’s network or fail to register a recent top-up. In such cases, a reset is a manual intervention to get the system working again without the need for a full engineer visit.

The Difference Between a Reset and a Restart

It’s worth noting that resetting a gas meter isn’t the same as restarting it in a technical sense. You’re not powering the meter off and back on — rather, you’re acknowledging a message, confirming credit, or giving the system permission to restore the flow of gas. This is often done by pressing a specific button, typically labelled “A” or “OK,” and holding it for several seconds.

In more advanced smart meters, the reset may also include a self-test or safety check that runs before gas is allowed to flow again. This ensures there’s no blocked valve, leak, or issue with connected appliances. It's a safety feature designed to protect both the user and the wider supply network.

Resetting After Emergency Credit

If you’ve used emergency credit on a prepayment meter, resetting may be required once the meter is topped up. Most meters won’t automatically restore the supply until the emergency credit is fully repaid and there’s a positive balance available. After topping up, the meter will typically ask you to confirm the repayment and allow the gas to start flowing again.

You may also see a message like “Press A to reconnect” or “Accept recovery” before the supply is reactivated. This step is important, as it ensures the user understands that emergency credit has been used and must be repaid before regular top-ups continue as normal.

Common Reset Messages and What They Mean

Meters display a range of messages that help guide you through the reset process. For example, if your meter shows “OFF”, “GAS OFF”, or “PRESS A TO RESTORE”, it generally means that the supply has been stopped and needs manual confirmation to be reactivated. A screen that says“CALL HELP”, “ERROR”, or “CREDIT LOW” may require further attention from your energy supplier or an engineer, depending on the severity of the issue.

If the display is completely blank, the meter may not have power — which could be due to a fault, internal battery failure, or a supply issue. In such cases, the meter will not reset until an engineer has assessed and resolved the fault.

Safety Advice

While it may be tempting to keep pressing buttons until something works, it’s always better to follow the correct process shown on the screen — or contact your supplier for clear, step-by-step instructions. If the meter doesn’t respond or shows a message you don’t recognise, stop and get professional advice. Incorrect attempts to reset the meter — especially on smart or prepayment models — can lock the system, delay reconnection, or trigger a tamper alert that needs manual override by your supplier.

Final Word

Resetting a gas meter is usually straightforward when dealing with a prepayment or smart system — especially after topping up or resolving a temporary fault. However, it’s vital to know when to reset and when to call for help. If the reset doesn’t restore supply, or if you’re unsure about the reason your gas has gone off, don’t take risks. Always follow the instructions shown on the meter, and if in doubt, contact your supplier or a qualified gas engineer. Safety must come first when working with gas.