Otis Singleton
Electric companies use electric meters to measure the amount of electricity consumed by a building. These meters can be located inside or outside a building and are usually found where the power lines come into the building. Electric meters can be analog or digital, with analog meters being read manually by meter readers and digital meters being read remotely. Digital meters, also known as smart meters, use electronic technology to measure electricity usage and store hourly readings electronically. They send this data to the local utility company through a secure telecommunications connection, which helps in reducing the number of estimated bills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How often are meters read? | Monthly or bimonthly depending on the tariffs of the state |
| How do companies read analog meters? | Done visually, meter readers can do it from about 50' away without assistance in less than a second |
| How do smart meters work? | Sends usage information back to the utility via radio signals or cellular communication |
| How do smart meters benefit the customer? | More accurate bills, less need for estimated bills, can help customers learn more about their energy use |
| How do smart meters benefit the utility company? | Better insight into the amount of electricity consumed and when, allows them to change the way they charge for electricity |
| How do smart meters work with solar power? | Record usage, track the energy fed back into the grid, and help utility companies determine total (net) energy usage and the amount to bill |
| How do you read your own meter? | Stand directly in front of the meter, at eye level, read the dials in order from right to left, write down the numbers from right to left |
| Where is your meter? | Could be inside or outside, if not mounted outside, check basement, laundry room, porch, garage, closet or attic |
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What You'll Learn
- Smart meters: usage data sent daily, reducing estimated bills
- Analog meters: read manually or remotely, visually or with monoculars
- Retro-fitting: new wireless module in old meters to save costs
- Meter disputes: accuracy tested at a calibration laboratory
- Meter location: inside or outside, in basements, laundry rooms, etc
Smart meters: usage data sent daily, reducing estimated bills
Smart meters are devices that measure how much electricity is consumed in a building. They are similar to traditional electrical meters but have the added functionality of sending usage information back to the utility company via radio signals or cellular communication. This allows utility companies to monitor power usage habits and change the way they charge for electricity. For instance, they can introduce variable rates depending on the time of day or season.
Smart meters benefit consumers by providing them with daily usage data, allowing them to better understand their electricity usage and make more informed decisions to reduce their energy consumption and keep bills down. For example, smart meters can notify users when their usage is increasing or when they are close to their budgeted limits. On average, smart meters have been found to help households reduce their electricity consumption by 3.4% and their gas consumption by 3.0%.
In addition to reducing energy usage, smart meters also help to reduce estimated billing. With traditional analog meters, utility companies can only determine how much electricity has been used between two readings, which usually involves sending a worker out to take a reading. Smart meters, on the other hand, automatically send readings to the energy supplier daily, ensuring that consumers are billed accurately for their energy usage.
While smart meters offer several advantages, there have been concerns raised about their accuracy and potential health impacts. Some consumers have disputed their smart meter readings and questioned whether the software in smart meters can be manipulated to increase usage readings. Others have reported experiencing Wi-Fi issues and health problems such as brain fog and headaches after having a smart meter installed.
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Analog meters: read manually or remotely, visually or with monoculars
Analog meters are easy to read manually or remotely, visually or with monoculars. They use a dial or pointer to show readings, while digital meters display readings as numbers on a screen. The dial of the analog meter has numbers printed on it, and the pointer moves clockwise or anti-clockwise when electricity is used. The number corresponding to the pointer's final location is the respective value of the quantity being measured. For example, if the pointer is between two numbers, the lower number is recorded. However, if the pointer is between 0 and 9, the number 9 is considered.
Analog meters are simpler but less precise than digital meters. They generally have an accuracy range of 1-5% and are suitable for applications where extreme precision is not required. One of their major advantages is that they can visually indicate the signal level using various colour schemes to define normal and dangerous levels. Users can refer to this colour chart to determine if the operation is within normal conditions. Analog meters can also show both single and multiple signals.
Analog meters can be read manually, visually, from about 50 feet away without assistance and in less than a second. They can also be read remotely, using monoculars or binoculars, or even the reflection off a neighbour's window, for example, from about 40 feet away.
Analog meters are also useful in situations where a digital meter's sampling rate may be too slow to display quick changes. They are also beneficial in low-voltage work and drive work. Additionally, analog meters can operate without external power and alert users to dangerous voltage or current levels.
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Retro-fitting: new wireless module in old meters to save costs
Electric companies check meters in a few different ways. Meters can be read manually by an employee of the company, who will come to the building and take the reading. This is the case for older analog meters, which do not have remote reading capabilities. However, some analog meters have been retrofitted with a new wireless module, which allows them to be read remotely.
Retro-fitting is a cost-saving method employed by utility companies. It involves installing a new wireless module into older meters, extending their lifespan. This method is used by companies to avoid the cost of replacing older meters with newer, wireless ones.
The new wireless module enables remote reading of the meter, which is more convenient and efficient for the utility company. It also provides more accurate and timely data on electricity consumption, allowing the company to better understand their customers' usage patterns. This can help them improve their services and billing processes.
Retro-fitting is a relatively simple and effective way for utility companies to upgrade their older meters without incurring the full cost of replacing them. It is a common practice, as evidenced by the many companies that manufacture and sell AMR retrofit boards.
The process of retro-fitting a meter typically involves installing a communication module under the cover of the meter. This module enables the meter to integrate with automated meter reading (AMR) systems, allowing for remote data collection. This technology uses radio communication or cellular communication to transmit data to the utility company.
Retro-fitting older meters can also benefit customers. It can provide them with more accurate and timely information about their electricity usage, helping them to better understand and manage their energy consumption.
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Meter disputes: accuracy tested at a calibration laboratory
If a customer disputes the accuracy of their electricity meter, the meter can be compared with a check meter functioning alongside the disputed meter, or more thoroughly tested at a specified calibration laboratory to verify accuracy. Most disputed meters are found to be operating as required.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards ensures that electricity meters are accurate, working closely with energy suppliers. They contract SGS (UK) Ltd to employ examiners to perform the independent testing of electricity meters and approve the laboratory where this is done.
During laboratory calibration, the meter's performance is assessed using highly accurate reference standards and specialized equipment. The energy meter is subjected to tests using known values of electrical power to identify any deviations from the expected measurements. If discrepancies are detected during laboratory calibration, adjustments are made to the energy meter's internal components. Common adjustments include calibrating the current and voltage transformers to ensure that the meter aligns with the reference standards.
Following adjustments, the energy meter undergoes further testing to confirm its accuracy. This verification step helps ensure that the meter will provide precise measurements once it is installed. While laboratory calibration is essential, on-site calibration is also critical for maintaining accuracy in real-world conditions. Field verification involves removing the energy meters from the grid and testing them in their operational environment, accounting for factors such as temperature variations, humidity levels, and voltage fluctuations that can impact accuracy in practical settings.
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Meter location: inside or outside, in basements, laundry rooms, etc
The location of electric meters can vary, with some locations chosen for convenience and others out of necessity. Commercial meters may be located inside or outside of buildings, whereas residential meters are generally found outside of houses or apartments, typically on the rear, right, or left sides, or the front. In some older electric services, meters are located inside service porches, or in electric meter rooms in apartment buildings or complexes, where the customer’s meter is locked inside.
Electric meters can also be located by following the electric service wires (service drop) from the utility pole to the house or apartment. Overhead services will start from power poles and have a service drop, to a service entrance, to a power panel. Underground services can have a service entrance that will be undetectable until you find the power panel. Usually, the electrical meter is located outside close to a building near the breaker box. Meters can also be found indoors, in crawl spaces or basements, also near the breaker box.
In some cases, an electric meter may be located inside a cabinet on the wall of an added family room at the rear of the home. This may be allowed if the meters are read electronically, and the masthead pipe is properly anchored and has legitimate clearance from the roof for the service drop. In New York City, for example, most meters are located in the basements of houses unless they are fed overhead.
The type of meter can also determine its location. For instance, older analog meters require a worker to be sent out to take a reading, whereas newer smart meters are designed to communicate your electricity usage directly with your utility company. Some smart meters communicate via a cellular signal, while others emit radio waves, which a utility worker can collect by driving through the neighbourhood.
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Frequently asked questions
Older analog meters are usually checked by a worker who comes to take a reading. The worker will stand directly in front of the meter, with the meter at eye level, and read the dials from right to left.
Smart meters use electronic technology to measure electricity usage and store readings hourly. They then send this data to the utility company via a low-power radio signal or cellular communication.
If there is a dispute, the meter can be compared to a check meter functioning alongside it, or it can be tested at a calibration laboratory. If the meter is found to be misregistering, a refund is usually provided.
