There are four kinds of electric meter: Digital, Electronic, Smart and Dial meters.


1. How to read a digital meter

Here is a typical digital meter display:

typical digital meter display

Write down numbers from left to right, ignoring any numbers in red or in a red surround.

How to read a digital meter

If your meter has more than one row of figures, write down all the numbers from left to right in each row, ignoring any numbers in red or in a red surround.

2. How to read an electronic meter 

Here is a typical electronic meter display: typical digital meter display

Some electronic meters have a cycle display button that you need to press to take readings; and some automatically scroll through the various displays. With a meter with two rows of figures, write down all the numbers from left to right in each display, ignoring any numbers in red or in a red surround.

3. How to read a dial meter 

Here is a typical electricity dial meter:

typical digital meter display

Each dial turns in the opposite direction to the one before it. Before you read your dial meter, check the direction of your dials. They may not be exactly as those illustrated above. Every dial on every meter revolves from 0 to 1 and through to 9, before continuing to 0 again.  In the example above, the dial meter reading shows as 44928.

To read an electric dial meter correctly:

  • Read the dials from left to right
  • If the pointer is between the two numbers, always take the lower number
  • If the pointer is directly over a number, write down that one
  • If the pointer falls between 9 and 0, write down 9 and reduce the reading you have already taken for the dial on its left by one. For example, if you originally recorded 5, reduce it to 4
  • Don't read the last dial on the right

4. How to read a smart meter 

READING YOUR SMART ELECTRICITY METER.

The screen you will need to view your energy usage is the Total Active Import screen. This is a default screen on Aclara (formerly GE) smart meter and you should be able to take a reading from this.

Total Active Import screen. Make a note of the information on the screen, including the zeros, as this is your meter reading. How to read a smart meter