Electric meters are core components in every household and commercial electrical system. In itself, an electric meter is a device that measures the amount of electric energy consumption of establishments and electronic devices.

Furthermore, electrical utility companies use electric meters for billing and monitoring purposes. Hence, they are responsible for the installation and maintenance of electric meters.

Electrical providers such as Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy also permits level 2 electricians to service electric meters. Besides, accredited service providers (ASPs) like Hills District Electrician can wire different kinds of meters. That said, your electric meter may not be the same as others, especially when they have a separate utility provider.

On the other hand, most people may not know what type of electric meter they have. In that case, you may have to replace your meter in the future but doesn’t know which one to get. Choosing the right meter type can positively impact your pricing options and can give you a sense of security.

With that, Hills District Electrician made a guide of different types of electric meters which can help you how to read your power consumption, regardless of what type you have.

Standard Electric Meter

More often than not, most electrical meters in Hills District are standard electric meters. Usually, these come in a box or circular shape with a protective glass front. A standard electric meter displays numbers in an electromechanical counter with red numbers indicated on the first digit.

The numbers indicated on the counter shows your energy consumption at that given time. You can also find the measurement unit in the front panel, which is usually in kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Dial Electric Meter

Another widely used meter aside from the standard is a dial meter. Instead of a counter, it displays your power reading through analog dials or circles with arrow hands that point to a number.

Much like the standard meter, you have to read the numbers in a dial meter from left to right. You can ignore the red dial at the end or below the rightmost dial. Also, some dial meters no longer include a red dial.

Digital Electric Meter

Digital meters are devices that use a digital or LCD to present your power consumption. You may need to press a button to turn on the display, and reading it isn’t similar to a standard meter.

To get your electric usage reading for the month, you have to subtract the most recent reading from your previous measurement. Many standard meters don’t reset every reading as well. Hence you need to subtract the latest numbers to the last month.

Prepayment/Prepaid Electric Meter

A prepaid or prepayment electric meter functions in reverse to other electric meters. Unlike the previous devices that read your current usage to derive your billing, you have to pay for an amount of power in advance.

Afterwards, your energy distributor will then loads your meter according to your payment. A prepayment meter typically goes with varying power subscriptions, and unlike others, its unit cost and price rates tend to cost more than the usual power meter.

Smart Electric Meter

Nowadays, people use smart meters instead of digital meters. What makes it stand out from digital electric meters is that it provides an understandable reading, giving you real-time information straight to your mobile device or tablet.

Therefore, smart meters are ideal for monitoring your energy consumption as well as analysing your energy reading. That way, you know where your power goes without the aid of an electrician.

Interval Meter

Similar to a smart meter, an interval meter reads your electric consumption at predefined intervals (mostly 30 minutes). Using it, you get a precise understanding of your energy usage.

Furthermore, electricity interval meters send electronic readings and data to a computer, where you can interpret and break down energy peaks and lows over time. Hence, you’ll get an idea about what time of the day you consume the most energy.

Solar Electric Meter

Off-grid and hybrid energy sources are becoming widespread across Sydney’s hilly suburbs. Along those lines, a solar electric meter is a device that measures power consumptions from solar energy.

If you decide to completely switch to solar energy or have a secondary source aside from the main grid, a solar meter should come in handy.

Additionally, solar electric meters come in three types:

• Net meters
• Bi-directional meters
• Dual meters

In a nutshell, going renewable is a step towards the right direction and is also a sustainable decision every household should make. That said, getting the right electric meter for your household demand is paramount to optimising your electrical system from the ground up.

Conclusion

Electric meters come in all shapes and types, from analog to digital to smart meters. No matter what meter you have, experts at Hills District Electrician can handle them. Hills District Electrician is an accredited service provider (ASP) authorised by the NSW local government.

Our level 2 electricians will install and rewire all sorts of electric meters and perform emergency electrical repairs with the best quality and craftsmanship.

With 15 years of service in Sydney Hills District, we treat you and your property with the utmost care and respect. We are a team of licensed and insured electricians available 24/7 to accommodate you on your most convenient time.

Call us at 02 8378 2838 for an appointment or inquire with us via email.