Your Electric Meter

Advanced metering systems

PUD staff continues to follow developments in the industry as
more and more utilities move to advanced metering
services. Advanced metering improves efficiency
while providing additional data about power use to customers.

Reading your meter

Your meter is an important part of your electric service. It
keeps track of how much power is used in your home or business
each month in kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity. One kWh
of electricity supplies enough energy to light ten 100-watt
lamps for one hour.

Meter readers read your meter every month unless it is
inaccessible due to locked gates, heavy foliage, unrestrained
dogs or inclement weather. Your cooperation in creating a safe
working environment is appreciated and will eliminate the need
for an estimated bill. When a meter cannot be read, an estimate
is made by computer. Any difference between the estimate and
your actual energy use is adjusted automatically on your next
billing, provided actual readings are obtained.

Two types of meters are used today: digital meters and dial
meters. Of the two, dial meters are the more common. Most homes
have a dial meter.

To read a digital meter, simply read the numbers left to right,
as you would any number.

Reading a dial meter is a little more complicated. Meter
readers read the dials from right to left, because each dial
influences the other. But the final number you come up with
will be read just like any number — from left to right.

Dials 1, 3, and 5 are read clockwise, while dials 2 and 4 are
read counterclockwise. When the hand on any dial is between two
numbers, read the smaller number (note that 9 is smaller than
0; when the pointer is between 9 and 0, think of the 0 as
“10”). If the pointer appears to be exactly on a
number, record the next lowest number unless the pointer on the
dial to its right has passed zero.

Try reading this example:

read_your__meter_graphic_0508