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 Learn how to read your meter and take control of your energy consumption. Download this information from this page in a pdf brochure. |
A Quick Lesson in Meter Reading
Electric use varies from household to household, depending upon the size of your home, number and type of appliances and how you use them. Your electric meter keeps track of it all for you. Electric meters record the total amount of electricity used. You can look at your own usage by learning to read your own meter.
Is your meter a confusing object?
It needn't be. Meters are not difficult to read and they can provide you with information about your energy conservation efforts. View the pdf brochure to get easy, step-by-step instructions on how to read your meter.
Your electric meter measures the amount of electricity you use. Just as you purchase pounds of meat, quarts of milk or gallons of gasoline, you buy kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. One kWh of electricity supplies enough energy to light ten 100-watt lamps for one hour.
Utility representatives use an electronic device to read your meter every month unless it is inaccessible due to locked gates, heavy foliage, unrestrained dogs or inclement weather (flooding, etc.). Your cooperation in creating a safe working environment for our employees is appreciated and will eliminate the need for an estimated bill. When a meter cannot be read, an estimate is made by computer. Any difference between the estimate and your actual energy use is adjusted automatically on your next billing, provided actual readings are obtained.
How to Read Your Electric Meter
- Read all the dials from right to left, and write the numbers down in the same order from right to left.
- When the hand on any dial is between two numbers, read the smaller number.
- If the pointer appears to be exactly on a number, record the next lowest number unless the pointer on the dial to its right has passed zero.
In this Example, the Reading is 83895
Can You Show Me That Step by Step?
- DIAL 1: The pointer is directly on number 5. Record as 5.
- DIAL 2: The pointer has just passed 9, and is between 9 and 0. Record as 9.
- DIAL 3: The next dial has passed 8, and is between 8 and 9. Again, record the smaller number which is 8.
- DIAL 4: The pointer looks like it is right on the 4 but, the dial to its right has not passed zero. So, you would record this dial as 3.
- DIAL 5: The pointer is between 8 and 9. Record the smaller number which the pointer just passed, which is 8.
Keep These Hints in Mind
- Notice that the pointers on the first, third and fifth dial move in the same direction as the hand of a clock. The second and fourth pointers move in the opposite direction.
- Stand directly in front of the meter so you can clearly see the location of each pointer.
- Read all the dials from right to left, and write the numbers down in the same order from right to left.
- If the pointer is between two numbers, read the number the pointer has just passed, always the lowest number.
- If the pointer is between 9 and 0, always read 9.
- If the pointer appears to be exactly on a number, read the next lowest number unless the pointer to its right has passed zero. Since the first dial has no dial to its right, this does not apply to dial 1.
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Want to try this out by your meter? Download this information in a pdf brochure.