Most residences or businesses have some type of electric meter in their home. However, not many people know that there are six kinds that can be found in any property. Furthermore, each electric meter is measured or read differently because of the variety of models available in the market.
Standard meters
This is the electric meter that is most commonly seen in homes and small businesses. The standard electric meter box has a mechanical display that needs to be read manually by looking at five black numbers from left to right. Standard meters are usually easy to read and show your electric usage in kilowatt hours (kWh).
Dial meters
These electric meters look like they have several mini clocks. In order to record the correct usage, you have to read the number on the “clock face” from left to right. If the needle is caught in between two numbers, you need to record the lower number.
Digital Meters
This type of electric meter box is fairly easy to read because it is on a digital or LCD display. If the numbers do not appear, the button on the display needs to be pressed.
Smart meters
These meters automatically send your readings to your chosen supplier. It also allows you to track your energy usage at home. This ensures that the customer is only responsible for paying for the electricity that they use. If you do not yet have a smart meter, the UK Power Networks provides some information. In addition, if you need to replace your electric meter box, you can visit MeterBox.
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Economy 7 and Economy 10 meters
These types of meters, known as “variable rate meters”, are primarily used by homeowners who consume their electricity during off-peak hours. Economy 7 meters allow renters to have low-cost electricity, which is used during seven specified hours during the evening. Economy 10 meters provide tenants with cheaper electricity over three separate parts of the day, which totals 10 hours.
Prepaid Meters
This type of electric meter may be largely seen in rental homes and is an ideal option for landlords as it encourages tenants to pay for their electricity up front. In order to do a reading, you press the button on the display. This will show you your total usage, which can be given to your supplier.
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