Reading Your Electric Meters

Dial Meters

Here are the steps:

• Read the dials from left to right

• Record the lowest reading between the numbers

• If the mark is very close to the number, look to the dial to the right to help decide if the number should be the higher or lower number.

• Don't forget the multiplier if your meter has one! That number converts your raw meter reading into kilo-Watt hours (kWh).

What should the reading be on the above meter? Write down your answer and check it at the bottom of this page. Here's a short video from http://www.youtube.com/user/RKClements on how to read a dial meter:

Digital Meters

Digital meters may have a "multiplier", however some meters do not have the multiplier marked on the meter. In this case, check your electric bill or check with your utility. There is more information on these meters. Ignore the 8888888 reading. This just tells that the meter is working. You are looking for kWh numbers.

Some of the digital meters have 2 channels for kWh - often an "A" channel and a "B" channel. There may also be a "T" or Total Channel. This allows the utility the possibility of having two different "time-of-use" (TOU) rates - one for on-peak times (weekdays) and one for off-peak times (nights and weekends). If you have TOU rates, you may have to add both kWh numbers together to get the total.

Most customers do not have TOU rates so only one channel is used.

Other numbers on the meter include kVar and kW readings. You can ignore these for now, although you may want to learn more about these charges and how you can save money by lowering them.

Estimate Your Answer First

Best tip for getting the data from your electric meter? Know the answer first.
by Craig Hibberd

The first thing I would do is to estimate the answer even reading the meter.

Estimating the Answer

To do this, look at an electric bill and determine what the kWh usage is for one month. Take this number and multiply it by 0.23. This will give you the approximate number of kWh used in a week (an average month has 30.4 days in it. Divide 7 days by 30.4 days to get the 0.23 multiplier)

Example

For example, if you have 11,000 kWh for the month, times it by 0.23 and you get 2,530 kWh for the week. Now you will have an estimate of the weekly kWh you should expect for the week in question.

Get Help from Your Utility

The next thing I would do is to call my electric utility, explain the Green Cup Challenge, and ask them to help with the meter readings. Let them know this is a national challenge. Your utility may or may not be helpful. If they are helpful, let us know and we will highlight the utility and get them some good publicity.

Different Meters and Rates

Digital meters record many different items besides kWh. Even a single utility may have different brand meters with different readouts. Some utilities have "time-of-use" rates so you have to add 2 kWh numbers together to get the total.

Use Your Estimate to Check Your Math

Record all of the numbers and then do the same thing a week later. Subtract all of the old first week numbers from the newest week's numbers. Since you know about what the answer is (2,530 kWh in our example), you should be able to see a similar number for your week's actual kWh usage.

The "Multiplier"

Another consideration is the meter "multiplier". Some meters have a "multiplier" that is used to convert a raw meter reading to the actual kWh. Typically the multiplier is posted on the meter and on the bill. If your answers are not coming out right, check for a multiplier.

Again, with a copy of your bill, your meter readings, and a little help from your utility, you should be able to get your numbers. The two attached XL spreadsheets can help with the meter and baseline calculations.

Quiz Answer

The correct reading for this meter is 73256.

February 15, 2010

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