Monitoring Your Electrical Usage
Your electric meter is an accurate way to measure electrical use. The meter is a finely calibrated, highly accurate device. These meters are tested on a regular cycle to ensure that they are working properly. You can use your meter to help you conserve energy and lower your electrical bills.
Keep a record of your meter readings for each month. By comparing use from one month to the next or for the same month a year earlier, you can see if your use has changed. If you have not made major changes in your electrical system and have not added major appliances, but your usage has changed, it may indicate a problem in your electrical system.
You can also use daily readings to check your use. Daily readings help you keep track of patterns that may develop during the day or week. They may indicate ways that you can reduce electrical use without major changes in how you live.
Take a few minutes each day (preferably at the same time) and jot down the reading of your electric meter. Start the first of the month and keep a record for at least one month. Also jot down any special activities that may have happened in that 24-hour period that may have affected your energy use.
By subtracting the previous day’s reading from the current reading each day, you get the number of kilowatt hours used during the 24-hour period. By adding the daily figures into weekly total, you can see how much—and when your family used power during that month.
If you see a pattern of increasing use, try to find out why by looking at your family’s activities during that period. Your records of daily use may show you the reason for the larger use. Was the weather colder and an engine heater plugged in? Was there increased laundry? Did you use more hot water?
If you cannot explain increased use from your notes, you may need to call an electrician to check for electrical wiring or appliance problems.