Beatrice Lang
Reading your electric meter can tell you many things, such as the effect of a new appliance on your consumption, how well you're conserving energy, or even the effect of the weather on your usage. You may want to keep daily, weekly, or monthly records. Your meter might be located inside or outside your home. If it's not mounted outside where the power lines come in, check your basement, laundry room, porch, garage, closet, or attic. If you live in an apartment building, duplex, or other multiple-family dwellings, the meters are usually grouped together and labelled according to the unit they serve. Most residential meters have four or five dials and are read from right to left.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Inside or outside the house. Could be in the basement, laundry room, porch, garage, closet, or attic. |
| Meter Number | Usually stamped or printed at the bottom of the face plate in bold black numerals. |
| Meter Reading | Read the dials from right to left. The dials measure the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh). |
| Comparison | Compare energy use to the number of heating or cooling degree days during the respective seasons. |
| Billing | Billed by the thousands of cubic feet (MCF) or hundreds of cubic feet (CCF). |
| Additional Data | Some meters provide additional data, including on- and off-peak kWh. |
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What You'll Learn
Reading the dials
Most residential electric meters have four or five dials. Both types are read the same way. Each dial on the meter is numbered from 0 to 9 and has a pointer – like the hand on a clock – that turns either clockwise or counterclockwise. The pointers advance only when electricity is being used. These dials measure the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use in 1s, 10s, 100s, 1,000s, and 10,000s.
To correctly read your meter, stand directly in front of it, with the meter at eye level, and read the dials in order, starting from the right and moving to the left. Write down the numbers from right to left. In most cases, the pointer will be between two numbers on the dial. The correct number is the lesser of the two. However, when the pointer appears to point directly at a number, use that number only if the pointer on the dial to the right has passed 0.
To figure out the number of kilowatt-hours you used during the month, subtract the last month’s reading on your most recent bill from the present reading. This will give the kilowatt-hours you used for the period.
Please note that the dials on a gas meter are read from left to right, the opposite of an electric meter.
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Where to find your meter
If you're wondering where your electric meter is located, there are a few places you can look. Electric meters are usually installed in a basement, garage, laundry room, porch, attic, or closet. If you live in a residential building, each dwelling unit should have its own electric meter.
Your electric meter will either have a digital display or dials with numbers on them. If you have an outdoor electric meter, you won't need to be at home when someone comes to read it, but you should ensure that any pets are confined for safety reasons.
It's important to know how to read your own electric meter to monitor your energy use and ensure accuracy. During the heating season, compare your energy use to the number of heating degree days for the same time period, and during the cooling season, compare it to the number of cooling degree days.
You can also submit your own meter reading if you won't be able to provide access on the scheduled date, or if you suspect that you're paying for someone else's electric service.
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Calculating usage
There are two main types of electric meters: analog and digital. Analog meters are the most common type of meter and feature small dials with indicators pointing to different numbers. Digital meters, on the other hand, display your current energy usage on an LCD screen with a series of large numbers.
To calculate your electricity usage, you will need to take regular readings of your electric meter and subtract the previous reading from the current one. This will give you the total kilowatt-hours (kWh) used.
For analog meters, start by identifying the dials. Typically, there are five dials, each numbered from 0 to 9, with indicators or pointers that turn as your home consumes electricity. Read each dial from left to right, noting that some dials rotate clockwise while others rotate counterclockwise. Write down the number that each pointer is closest to, rounding down if the pointer is between two numbers.
Digital meters are generally easier to read than analog meters. Simply read the numbers from left to right and write them down, ignoring any decimals or extra digits at the end.
Smart meters are a type of digital meter that can communicate your usage data directly to your utility provider. They often come with companion apps that provide detailed breakdowns of your usage, peak times, and more. To read a smart meter, look for the digital display, which will show your current meter reading.
It is important to note that your electricity bill may be calculated based on the number of kWh used and the rate charged by your electricity provider, which can vary depending on your plan and the time of day the electricity is used. By understanding how to read your electric meter and calculate your usage, you can monitor your consumption, make informed decisions about your energy use, and potentially save on your utility bills.
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Manually reading your meter
To manually read your electric meter, you must first locate it. Your meter might be located inside or outside your home. If it is not mounted outside where the power lines come into your home, check your basement, laundry room, porch, garage, closet, or attic. If you live in an apartment building or other multiple-family dwelling, the meters for your building are likely grouped together in one place and labelled according to the unit they serve. Make sure you read the correct meter.
Once you've located your meter, stand directly in front of it with the meter at eye level. Most residential meters have four or five dials or an LCD (liquid crystal display). Both types of meters register the total amount of electricity you use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
If you have a meter with an LCD, refer to the LCD on the meter itself to read the meter type, rate code, description of reading, current time, total kWh, and peak and off-peak usage.
If you have a meter with dials, the dials represent the amount of electricity used in single units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and ten-thousands of kWh, from right to left. Each dial on the meter is numbered from 0 to 9 and has a pointer like the hand on a clock that turns either clockwise or counterclockwise. The pointers advance only when electricity is being used. To correctly read your meter, read the dials in order, starting from the right and moving to the left. Write down the numbers from right to left. In most cases, the pointer will be between two numbers on the dial. If this is the case, the correct number is the lesser of the two. However, when the pointer appears to point directly at a number, use that number only if the pointer on the dial to the right has passed 0.
To figure out the number of kilowatt-hours you used during the month, subtract the last month's reading on your most recent bill from the present reading. This will give you the kilowatt-hours you used for the period.
You can also keep daily, weekly, or monthly records of your meter readings to monitor your electric energy use.
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Understanding your bill
Understanding your electricity bill is an important part of keeping your costs under control. Your bill will be based on the readings from your electricity meter, so it's important to know how to read your meter and understand the information on your bill.
Firstly, it's important to know what type of meter you have. There are several different types of electric meters, including digital metric meters, digital imperial meters, smart meters, electromechanical meters, and solar meters. Digital metric meters will have a digital display showing 5 numbers, followed by a decimal point, and then some more numbers. You should write down the first 5 numbers from left to right, ignoring any numbers after the decimal point. Digital imperial meters are similar, but they display 4 black or white numbers, followed by 2 red numbers. You should write down the first 4 numbers from left to right and ignore the rest. Smart meters automatically send your energy usage data to your supplier, so you don't need to worry about manually reading these. Electromechanical meters are clock-like devices driven by the electricity moving through them, with small gears that turn dials on the face of the meter. Solar meters show how much electricity your system is generating, how much energy your home is using, and how much energy you're purchasing.
Once you know how to read your meter, you can understand your bill. Your bill will likely be based on your usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh). One kilowatt-hour is equal to using one thousand watts of power in one hour. Your bill will also show the price per kWh, which will depend on your price plan. Some suppliers offer dual-rate meters, which provide cheaper electricity at certain times, usually at night. These meters will have two rows of numbers, one for the cheaper rate and one for the standard rate. Make sure your bill is based on an actual meter reading, not an estimate, and be aware of the time period between readings, as this can vary. You can also compare your energy usage to the number of heating or cooling degree days for the same time period to see if your usage is proportional.
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Frequently asked questions
Your electric meter might be located inside or outside your home. If it is not mounted outside where the power lines come into your home, check your basement, laundry room, porch, garage, closet, or attic. If you live in an apartment building or other multiple-family dwelling, the meters will be grouped together in one place and labelled according to the unit they serve.
Stand directly in front of your electric meter, with the meter at eye level. Most residential meters have four or five dials, numbered from 0-9 with a pointer like the hand on a clock. The pointers advance only when electricity is being used and move either clockwise or counterclockwise. These dials measure the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) you use. To correctly read your meter, read the dials in order, starting from the right and moving to the left. Write down the numbers from right to left. If the pointer is between two numbers, use the smaller number. If the pointer is directly on a number, use that number only if the pointer on the dial to the right has passed 0.
To calculate your electricity usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh) for the month, subtract the last month's reading on your most recent bill from the present reading.
