How Much Electricity are you Using?
Every single appliance, light bulb, or electrical device you switch on in our home requires a certain amount of electricity. The electric meter on your home measures how much electricity is being used at any given time.
Our meter readers check your usage on a regular basis to calculate how much electricity you use, so we know what to bill you for.
Summerside Electric uses dial meters.
You’ll notice the meter on your home has 4 or 5 dials. Each dial is calibrated to measure in units of: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, or ten thousands. The dial at the right records units. As soon as you begin to use electricity, all dials on the meter start to move beginning with the dial on the right.
Electric meters are read in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The reading of the meter starts with Dial 1 (right hand dial) and works to the left. The value of each dial is determined
by its position. When a dial is indicating between two numbers, record the lower number.
If the pointer is between two numbers, use the lower number. If the dial is on a number, then the dial to the right will indicate the right one to record. If the indicator to the right has passed the number zero, then the number the pointer is directly on is to be used. If the dial on the right is not past zero, record the lower number on the dial.
Since you are reading the meter from right to left, remember to record your digits from right to left as well.
Subtract your last months reading from the current reading to get your consumption. Note: some meters have a multiplier. In this case, the reading must be multiplied by this number to derive kWh usage.
Summerside Electric reads your meter every month with estimating occurring only on an as needed basis.
For more information, contact:
Greg Gaudet - Municipal Services Director
[email protected]
902-432-1268
City of Summerside, 275 Fitzroy Street, Summerside, PE C1N 1H9
Related City Documents:
How to Read a Meter
Related External Links:
Measurement Standards