You can easily learn to read your own meter. (Electric and gas meters are read the same way.) Then by reading it at the same time each day, you’ll get an exact total of the electricity you have used. By noting high consumption activities, such as air conditioning in the summer or changes in hot water usage, you’ll know how you are spending your energy dollars. To track your usage over time, record your readings using our meter reading tracking table (PDF, 165KB).
Note: Your electric bill is calculated in kilowatt-hours (KWH) used in a monthly billing cycle. An electric meter measures kilowatt hours. A kilowatt hour is 1000 watts of electrical energy used for one hour. One 100-watt bulb burning for 10 hours equal one KWH.)
Your meter probably has four or five dials. Notice that some of the dial pointers on the meter above turn alternately clockwise and counter-clockwise.
- Look at the first, it's turning clockwise and between the seven and the eight. Record the number that the hand just passed -- in this case, seven.
- The second dial is turning counter-clockwise and points between the three and the four. The reading will be three.
- Look at the third dial from the right, the dial pointer is between the two and the three. The reading will be two.
- The fourth dial is turning counter-clockwise and is just past the five, so the next number you write down is five.
- The last dial is turning clockwise and the hand is between the six and the seven. When the dial pointer is between two numbers, write down the lower of the two numbers. You want to record the number that the hand just passed - in this case, six.
- The correct reading for this meter is 73256.
- When a dial pointer appears to be exactly on a number, look back at the dial to the right. If the pointer on that dial has not passed zero, the reading on the dial in question is the lower number.
- Now, if you read your meter at the same time each day, subtract the present reading from the previous day's reading to determine the number of kilowatt hours used in one day.
- To calculate the cost of electricity, multiply the number of kilowatt hours used by the cost per kilowatt hour shown on your utility bill.
Just reading your meter won’t save you money, but it can help you become more aware of your overall energy consumption.
Is Your Electric Meter Accessible?
To provide the best service, make sure we can reach and read your meter(s).
- Keep shrubs trimmed; don't block the meter(s).
- Secure your animals around the read date indicated on your bill.
- Unlock gates that allow meter access.
- Never tamper with the meter or paint over the read dials.
- Do not chain or electronically ground anything to the meter.
All SCE&G meter readers can easily be recognized by the SCE&G patch on their blue uniforms and identification cards they carry. However, don't hesitate to call SCE&G to confirm an employee’s identification.
