The analogue electricity meter used as an example below uses five dials to give a reading.
- Starting from the left-hand dial (10,000), record the numbers from left to right
- When a dial hand points between numbers, record the lower number
Using our example image above, the numbers recorded should be 3-4-9-4-6. This reading shows 34,946 kilowatt hours of electricity.
Are you confused by the second number recorded from the dial reading in this image?
- In the above example, the "1000" dial appears to be indicating that the pointer is on the number 5, but if you look closely you will see that the pointer has not quite reached the number 5. This is because the "100" dial (to its right) has not completed a full revolution yet (it is between numbers).
Once it does, the "1000" dial will move fully to the next number, 5. For now, the correct reading is 4.
Note
Not all dial meter displays look like the above example. In some meters, the placement of numbers in each dial runs in the opposite direction to the dials shown above.
This analogue electricity meter looks like an odometer in your car. Numbers are read from left to right.
The meter has five white digits that show the kilowatt hours of electricity that have been used.
The above image shows 92,992 kilowatt hours of electricity.
The electronic electricity meter is read using the display button to switch through a series of screens. All readings are recorded in a non-volatile electronic memory, so no readings will be lost in the event the meter loses power.
ActewAGL uses many different styles of electronic meters. The following illustration and instructions pertain to a common example of the electronic electricity meter.
To read the meter, press the display button. The first screen is the test pattern and shows a series of eights. To read the other screens, press the display button to move onto the next one. Beside each reading a number will appear:
- 01 shows the time
- 03 shows the total main circuit kWh reading
- 07 shows the total off-peak reading
- 13 – 14 show 'on' and 'off' times for the first off-peak period
- 15 – 16 show 'on' and 'off' times for the second off-peak period
- 18 shows the serial number of the meter
Note
Not all electronic electricity meters look like the illustration above. For example, the latest meters installed display the kilowatt hours used in three separate registers.
Time of Use (TOU) meters have been installed on the ActewAGL network since 2007.
TOU meters have a scroll rate of five seconds for each display window. To manually scroll through each window, momentarily press the right-hand button to access the next screen. In some cases this button will activate the boost function for controlled loads (such as storage hot water) if the button is pressed for five seconds. Boost mode switches on controlled load devices outside of programmed off-peak operation times.
Note:
Not all TOU meters look like the illustration above.
For more detailed information on how to read 3-phase meters (sprint 200), single-phase single element meters (with green push buttons) and single-phase twin element meters (with blue push buttons) you can download our guide to reading TOU meters (PDF, 300kb).
Learn more about how Time of Use rates work.
Note:
The default display for all customers will be a TOU display, however consumption will be billed as per the pricing plan you have in place with your retailer.
The numbers on your gas meter's dial show the total volume of natural gas that has passed through it in cubic metres.
To calculate the amount of gas you have consumed during this period, you need to deduct the previous reading from the figure on the meter. You can find your previous reading on your last gas bill.
You can then work out your energy usage in mega joules (MJ). Using this consumption figure multiply it by the conversion factor that is on your gas bill. The conversion factor refers to the amount of energy (MJs) per cubic metre of gas.
From 1 July 2012, ACTEW assumed direct responsibility for the management and operation of its water and sewerage network through the new business name ACTEW Water.
For information on how to read your water meter please visit ACTEW Water’s website.