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When reading an electric meter, read and write down the numbers as shown on the dials from right to left. When the pointer is directly on a number, look at the dial to the right. If it has passed zero, use the next higher number. If it has not passed zero, use the lower number. Record the numbers shown by writing down the value of the dial to ...
- Overview
- Using an Analog Dial Meter
- Checking a Digital Meter
- Calculating Your Usage
Your gas meter is mounted outside your home near your gas pipes. It reads how much natural gas your household uses. Knowing how to read your gas meter helps you understand how much gas you’re using and allows you to make sure the gas company is charging you for the right amount of gas. Your meter may be an analog dial meter or an electric meter, both of which are easy to read once you know how they work.
Read the dials on the meter from left to right. Look at the needle of each dial to find the number and record the numbers side by side without gaps between them. Keep in mind that the hands of adjacent dials rotate in opposite directions to each other.
Recognize that each dial represents a number in a 4- to 5- digit reading.
Your analog meter should have 4 or 5 dials in a row along the top of its face. Together, they produce a 4- or 5- digit reading. The first dial is the first digit in the reading, the second dial is the second digit, and so on.
Most analog gas meters have 4 dials, but yours may have 5. The number of dials depends on the type of meter used by your gas company, as well as when it was manufactured.
When a smaller dial makes a revolution, the next-higher dial goes up 1 point.
Keep in mind that dials rotate in the opposite direction of the 1 next to them. For example, the first and third dials might turn counter clockwise, while the second and fourth dials turn clockwise.
Read the dials left to right.
Make sure the meter is for your gas usage.
Gas meters are more likely to be analog than electric meters. Before you take your reading, verify that the meter is attached to your gas line, not near your powerline.
It’s helpful to locate both meters before you take a reading.
Determine if the reading is in imperial or metrical units.
If you live in the United States, your meter will likely be in imperial units, such as cubic feet. If you live in an area that uses the metric system, however, you’ll likely see metric units, such as cubic meters.
If you have an imperial meter, your display panel should have
Check your gas meter at the same time each month.
This is the only way to take useful readings. Your gas company will take 1 reading a month, usually around the same time. To estimate your usage, you need to do the same thing.
Look at your gas bill to see what day the gas company usually checks your meter, though it can vary month-to-month. Checking it on the same day will give you the most accurate reading.
For example, you might check your meter every month on the 1st.
Track your gas meter reading for at least 2 monthly cycles.
You can’t do much with a single reading, as it won’t let you calculate your usage. This is because the gas company doesn’t reset the meter each month. To calculate usage, you’d need to know your reading from last month.
Reading your natural gas meter is one way to tell how much natural gas you're using each month. To accurately read your natural gas meter, follow the steps below: Read the dials left to right. If the hand is between two numbers, always select the lower number. When the hand is between "9" and "0," then "9" is considered the lower number.
Digital imperial meter Example. This meter reading is 1860. A digital imperial meter has an electronic or digital display, showing 4 black or white numbers, followed by 2 numbers shown in red. To read the meter: Write down the first 4 numbers from left to right. Ignore the rest of the numbers, shown in red. Dial meter Example. This meter ...
Option 1: Enter a number under the dial to see how it changes the dial hand. Option 2: Click on the dial image and hit return or enter on your keyboard to see how the dials rotate. To stop the dials, hit enter again. To accurately read your natural gas meter, follow the steps below: Read the dials left to right. If the hand is between two numb.
Your second set of readings is correct. The meter face clearly states that for the left most dial, the scale is 1,000,000 cf per revolution. Thus each digit on that dial represents 100,000 cf. Each dial to the right is 1/10 of that to it's left. So each digit for the 4 dials, from left to right, indicates 100,000; 10,000; 1000; and 100 cf ...
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To keep your bills consistent and ensure you’re only paying for what you use, submit your meter reading online. New contest, more chances to win! . If you would like to provide a reading, you can enter it below or login to your account and submit it under the My Gas Meter tab. You can also sign up to receive an email or text to remind you ...
