How to Read an Electric Meter
Digital meters show kWh used directly on the display. For dial meters, read each dial left to right, using the lower number when the pointer is between two numbers. Subtract last month's reading to get monthly usage. See our electricity guide for more.
Key Takeaways
- Digital meters are straightforward—they display total kWh used since installation.
- Some meters measure kWh and kW (demand)—focus on kWh for usage, kW for peak demand billing.
- Time-of-use meters may have multiple registers for peak/off-peak rates.
Explanation
Digital meters are straightforward—they display total kWh used since installation. Some cycle through different readings (total usage, current demand, time of use rates). Record the main kWh number.
Dial meters have 4-5 dials that spin in alternating directions. Read left to right. If a pointer is between numbers, use the lower one. If it's exactly on a number, check if the dial to the right has passed zero—if not, use the lower number.
Smart meters send readings automatically and often have online portals showing hourly or daily usage patterns. Check with your utility for access to detailed consumption data.
The trickiest part of reading a dial meter is the alternating direction of the dials. The first (leftmost) dial spins counterclockwise, the second spins clockwise, the third counterclockwise, and so on. Each dial represents a digit in the total reading: the leftmost is the ten-thousands place, then thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. For example, if the dials read 4-7-2-8-3, your meter shows 47,283 kWh total. Subtract last month's reading (say 46,383 kWh) to get 900 kWh of monthly usage.
Reading your own meter is valuable for catching billing errors and tracking the impact of energy-saving changes. The average U.S. household uses about 886 kWh per month, which costs roughly $130-160 at the national average rate of $0.16/kWh. By recording your meter at the same time each week, you can spot usage spikes caused by seasonal changes, new appliances, or even a malfunctioning HVAC system pulling more power than it should.
Things to Know
- Some meters measure kWh and kW (demand)—focus on kWh for usage, kW for peak demand billing.
- Time-of-use meters may have multiple registers for peak/off-peak rates.
- If your meter reading seems wrong, contact your utility—faulty meters do occur.
- If you have solar panels, you likely have a bidirectional (net) meter that tracks both electricity consumed from the grid and electricity sent back. These meters display two readings: one for imported power and one for exported power. The difference determines your net bill or credit each month.