Reading Your Electric Meter or Gas Meter

 

  1. Electricity usage is measured in kWh (kilowatt hours). Natural gas is measured in CCF (100’s of cubic feet). Your meter will have 4 or 5 dials. Think of the dials like number columns – the farthest right dial is the 1’s column, the second from the right is the 10’s column and so on.
  2. The dials work like the odometer in your car – a hand must go around ten times to cause the hand on the dial to the left of it to go around once.
  3. The dials beside each other rotate in opposite directions. Start with farthest LEFT dial.
  4. If the hand is in between 2 numbers, record the number that the hand has just passed or the smaller of the 2 numbers. Make sure you are standing directly in front of the dial to get the correct reading. Also ensure that you record the numbers in the proper order- from left to right. The exception to this rule is if the hand is in between 9 and 0. In this case, record the number 9.
  5. If the hand is exactly on a number, look at the dial to the right – if the hand on the right dial is on or has just passed the 0 then record the number on the left dial. If the hand on the right dial is just approaching the 0, read the lower number on the left dial, not the number that hand is actually on.
  6. To record how much electricity you use, you need to take a reading again later. For example, if you read your meter 1 week later at the about the same time, you will record a new number. Simply subtract the old number from the new number to get the total kilowatt hours of power you used:

Usage = This week subtract last week = 13659-13424 = 235kWh

To find out how much that usage cost, multiply the amount of kWh by the rate per kWh.

You can use this same technique to read your gas meter.

Once your meter is read, you call in the reading to our 24-hour voice mail system at 860-823-4123.

Reading Your Water Meter

You can read your water meter the same way you read your car’s odometer. Simply record the numbers as they appear on the meter. To calculate your usage over 1 week, record the number on the meter on the same day and same time 7 days apart. Subtract the smaller number from the larger number and this tells you the total cubic feet of water you used during that week.

Information about remote readers:

In some cases, customers may have a remote meter reading device installed outside their home. The remote reading device, or “read-o”, displays the readings from the inside meter by recording a pulse that is transmitted through a connecting wire. Your inside meter is the actual measuring device. You should verify that the outside reading is the same as the inside reading. If there are discrepancies between the remote device and the actual meter, your account may have been billed incorrectly and the remote meter may need to be replaced. A NPU meter reader will need to have access to the inside meters several times a year to verify that the remote reader is accurate.

Snow Removal From Gas Meters

It is important to keep the area around the meter free from snow. Fire departments and other emergency response agency personnel must have access to gas meters in case of an emergency shut-off situation. NPU Meter Readers also need access to the meters if customers want to avoid an estimated bill.

When removing snow around gas meters:

  1. Make sure you know the exact location of your meter before you begin to remove snow
  2. Maintain a safe distance between gas meters and shovels, snow blowers, and other equipment while shoveling
  3. NEVER push snow against gas meters, gas piping, or appliance vents (make sure all vents are free of snow or other obstructions)
  4. NEVER pile snow on top of gas meters, gas piping, or appliance vents
    All natural gas customers should be aware that gas meters that are buried in deep snow or damaged by snow removal equipment could begin to leak. Gas meter leaks are a potentially hazardous situation.

Maintaining your meter

Please keep the area around your meter clear!

Please, remember to keep the area around your meter(s) clear. Do not pile boxes and other debris in front of the meter, and look to see if shrubs or branches make it difficult to access the meter(s). If you can’t reach it, neither can we. And please remember to keep your dogs inside on the day the meter reader is scheduled. Your dog may be your best friend, but he can present a serious threat to a meter reader or service technician!