How to: Take Electricity Meter Readings
Electricity meters
The electricity meter tells you how many units of electricity you have used. The units for all household meters are kilowatt hours (kWh).
Although all show kilowatt hours, the way they display varies a bit.
Some meters have a digital readout, others a mechanical one. Some older meters have round dials.
In order to enter a meter reading onto the website it's crucial to make sure you’re reading the meter properly, so here’s a overview of some types you might come across:
Type 1: Digital Meter
This one is reading: 7437.78 kWh.
(To the right of the display is a little red LED that flashes with every 1/1000th of a kWh - watch it go when the kettle's on!)
If you have Economy 7 (ie: a different Day rate and Night rate), you will have TWO displays to read. Some Digital meters require you to press a button to swap between Day and Night. If you have both rates, make sure you enter both figures into the website.
Type 2: Mechanical Meter
This meter is reading 98738.8 kWh - The red number shows 1/10ths of kWh.
Type 3: Dial Meter
If you have an old dial meter, it can be a bit confusing at first.
But, don't worry, it's not impossible to read! The confusion comes from the fact that dials move in opposite directions, so you've got to think a bit.
Here for example the reading is 60169.1 kWh. From the left, the first dial says 6, the second is 0, the third hasn't quite made 2 so it's 1, the fourth is not quite at 7 so it's 6, the fifth is 9 and finally the red tenths dial is 1.
Overall: 60169.1 kWh
Once you've done your first, the rest will be easy !
Type 4: Dual rate
Here the Night reading is 60030.9 and the Day time one 83677.8 kWh.
Note that Day can be called "Normal" and Night referred to as "Low". On this meter, the little arrow points to what tarrif you are on at the moment.
The night rate can be particularly interesting as it shows what consumption is going on while we're all tucked up in bed.
Finally, if you're still stuck...
...drop us a line. If you can take a picture of your meter and send it through, we'll gladly help you read it.
Email: zapinfo@zapcarbon.com