How to Read Your Electric Meter

Keeping track of your electric usage is important for managing your energy consumption and bills. Each month, we read your electric meter to determine how much electricity you’ve used at your home or business. Depending on the type of meter installed at your location, your usage data may be collected manually by one of our technicians or automatically from our office.

Let’s talk about how to read both dial meters and digital meters to better understand how your electricity usage is measured.

Dial Meters

Dial meters are older models that feature a series of rotating dials, each with numbers from 0 to 9. Some dials move clockwise, and others move counterclockwise. The dials are connected to hands that point to the numbers as they rotate.

How to Read a Dial Meter

1. Start with the left-most dial and move to the right.
2. If the hand is between two numbers, read the smaller number.
   1. For example, if the hand is between 1 and 2, you would record 1.
3. Once you’ve recorded the numbers from each dial, you’ll have a series of digits that represent your current meter reading.

Example of a Dial Meter Reading

In the example, the reading on the dial meter shows 1381:

1. Starting from the left, you record 1, then 3, then 8, and finally 1.
2. Your meter reading is 1381.

Calculating Your Kilowatt-Hours (kWh)

To determine how much electricity you’ve used since your last meter reading, follow these steps:

1. Look for the “X10” indicator (this is typically located next to the left-most dial). This means you’ll need to multiply the reading difference by 10.
2. Subtract the previous reading from the current reading.
   • For example, if your previous reading was 1217, you would subtract 1217 from 1381:
     • 1381 - 1217 = 164

3. Multiply the result by 10 to get your total usage in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
   • 164 x 10 = 1,640 kWh

A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the amount of energy required to run ten 100-watt light bulbs for one hour.

Digital Meters

BTES also installs digital meters, which are more modern and easier to read. These meters display the reading directly as a numerical value, without the need for dials or hands.

How to Read a Digital Meter

1. Simply note the number displayed on the digital screen. This is your meter reading.
2. No multiplier is needed with digital meters. If your current reading is 86767, that is your total usage for the billing period.

Example of a Digital Meter Reading

In this case, the digital meter shows 86767. To calculate your kilowatt-hours (kWh), you just subtract your previous reading from your current reading.

If your previous reading was 85526, you would subtract:

• 86767 - 85526 = 1,241 kWh

Reading Meters

Our Utility Service Technicians work hard to ensure that your meter is read correctly each month. Whether it’s a manual reading or an automated one, we strive to make sure your bill accurately reflects your electricity usage. We also inspect meters regularly to ensure they are functioning properly and to check for any signs of damage or tampering. Tampering with your electric meter is illegal and can lead to serious consequences, including criminal prosecution. If you suspect that your meter has been tampered with, please report it immediately.