How to read your meter

Depending on your home, you could have both a natural gas and an electricity meter. Natural gas meters are close to ground level, about knee height, and may have metal posts in front of it to protect it from accidental damage. If it’s inside your home, it’s usually a natural gas meter and in the basement close to the ceiling. Electricity meters are typically outside of your home at eye level.

Meter types

Our meters have two different display types: dial display and digital display.

Dial display

These meters typically have four circular dials with the numbers 0 to 9. However, five-dial meters are also common. Look at the dial hands and record the meter reading. If a dial hand is between two numbers, write down the lower number. If it’s between 9 and 0, choose 9.

Digital display

These meter types have a digital display and alternate between two or three sets of numbers. The first display is a test pattern with a row of number eights. The second display is a five-digit number with the letters “kWh,” representing how much energy the property has used. Wait for the electricity meter to show the second display and record the meter reading.

Bi-directional

These meters work the same way as a digital display. They rotate between three sets of numbers: 1) a test display that shows the meter is operating, 2) a kilowatt hour display that shows how much energy you’ve used and 3) an excess kilowatt hour display that shows how much energy you’ve generated and delivered back to Manitoba Hydro.