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.

Since you are reading the meter from right to left, remember to record your digits from right to left as well.

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.