How to Read a Meter

Electric meters are read in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A meter may have 4 or 5 dials. Each dial is calibrated to measure in units of: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, or ten thousands. The dial at the right records units. As soon as you begin to use electricity, all dials on the meter start to move beginning with the dial on the right.

To read your meter start with Dial 1 (right hand dial) and work to the left. The value of each dial is determined by its position. When a dial is pointing between two numbers, always record the lower number. However, if the pointer is between 9 and 0, use 9 as the lower number. If the pointer is directly on a number, then the dial to the right will determine the one to use. If the dial to the right has passed zero, then record the number the pointer is directly on. If the pointer on the right is not past zero, record the next lowest number on the dial you are reading.

Based on the instructions outlined in the above paragraph, what is the correct reading for the meter below?

A. 79204
B. 70213
C. 79103
D. 80214

The correct reading is... 79103

Your energy consumption is then determined by subtracting last months reading from the current reading. Note: some meters will indicate a multiplier of a certain number. In this case, the reading obtained is to be multiplied by this multiplier to derive kWh usage.

How to Read your Demand Meter for Demand

The pointers, as shown below, register the demand or the maximum rate of power at which electrical energy is delivered. The red pointer measures present demand while the black pointer measures maximum demand.

Note: This meter measures the demand in watts.

The red pointer (reading 115 W) is controlled by a thermal coil. As energy passes through the meter, the coil heats, expands and moves the red pointer up the scale.

When the electricity passing through the meter is reduced, the coil cools and contracts and the red pointer moves back down the scale. It should be noted that this heating and cooling of the coil does not occur instantaneously. After one half-hour of use the demand reading is 99% of the actual demand - (90% after 15 min.).

When the red pointer advances, it drives the black pointer forward at the same rate. However, when the red pointer retreats, the black pointer remains stationary, indicating the maximum demand.

The black pointer (reading 300W) is manually reset to the red pointer after the reading is recorded by Saint John Energy's Meter Readers. This process is repeated during the monthly reading of the meter.

Digital Meters

The digital or electronic meter indicates energy and maximum demand on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) readout. The LCD display continuously scrolls through these readings and a series of other programmed values.

	Energy Reading of 78,608 kWh
Demand Reading of 0.471 kW

Note: Digital meters measure energy in kWh and maximum demand in kW* max or kVA max**.

* kW - One thousand watts. A watt is a true measure of power.

Watts = Volts x Amps x Power Factor (W = V x A x PF)

** kVA - One thousand Volt -Amperes. A Volt-Ampere is an apparent measure of power.