Reading Your Electricity Meter in Alberta

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Learning to read your meter is a good thing to know so that you can keep track of your energy consumption, and if ever you want to check to make sure that it is working and being measured correctly. You also may need to read your meter if you are moving or changing energy suppliers.

How Your Electric Meter Works

Like the odometre on a car, an electric meter measures the total amount of electricity consumed. The electricity you buy is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). A kWh measures the electric energy equivalent to 1,000 watts for one hour. A kWh equivalent to using one 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours, or a vacuum for one hour.

Dial Meter

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Most electricity meters in Alberta are dial meters. On the face of a dial meter is a revolving disk with several dials and pointers. This disk rotates at a speed that changes with the watts of electricity that you are using at that time (it speeds up as you use more energy, and slows down when you use less). Each dial on your meter measures a precise amount of energy, which is indicated by the position of the pointer. Each dial has 10 numbers on it. The order of the numbers (and the movement of the dials) alternates between clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. Your meter may have four or five dials. The pointers follow the direction of the numbers and move with your electricity use (only when you are using electricity).

How to Read Your Dial Meter

  • Standing directly in front of your meter, read and record each dial starting from the left and moving right.
  • Read the number when the dial pointer is directly on the number. When it is between two numbers, record the number that has just been passed (the smaller number). If the dial is between9 and 0, think of the 0 as a 10.
  • When you have recorded your measure, submit it to your distribution company within that same

Some meters can't measure all the power your property uses so they measure a fraction of it. These meters have a multiplier indicated on the front of the meter. Your power consumption is measured by reading the dials and multiplying by this number.

Example

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This meter reads 2211

Digital Meters

Here are some different examples of digital electricity meters:

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Your digital meter may be automated, meaning that it is read automatically by a remote computer system. The display will be updated every few seconds. Sometimes all of the digits will flash as 8 between readings. Record the number that appears after the 88888.

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Your digital meter may have two numbers displayed (one with 5 digits, the other with 3). In this case, read and record the 5 digit number that is at the top of your display. The 3 digit number at the bottom of the display indicates how much energy is being used at the time.

Sub-meters

Sub-meters allow landlords to measure how much energy is used by each the rental units of the building they own, and to bill their tenants accordingly for their energy use. This means that tenants pay for the energy they actually use, rather than paying a fixed amount based on the entire building's consumption. Sub-meters are accompanied by a master meter that measures the entire building's consumption. If you are a tenant whose building uses sub-meters, you should be able to see and record your energy consumption if you so desire. Ask your landlord where your submeter is.

If you are interested in learning more about your sub-meter, the Government of Alberta has published some advice about sub-meters for rental units here.

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