Your electricity meter keeps track of the number of kilowatt-hours of electricity you use. There are currently two types, conventional or Smart Meters.
Hydro One has is currently replacing conventional meters across the province and will continue until the Province's target of 1.2 million smart meters installed is met by 2010. They are being rolled out in a pre-determined geographic sequence in order to make the process as cost-effective and speedy as possible
Read my own meter (non-TOU billed customers)
By registering with our Self Service website, you can send Hydro One your exact meter reading(s) each month so that it's reflected on your next bill. You now have a longer window of opportunity to enter your reading(s) online, depending on your Bill Group and schedule. Simply log in to My Account Self Service, select "Submit Your Meter Reading" from the main menu and follow the on-screen instructions.
With the introduction of Time-of-Use pricing you’ll no longer have the need nor the ability to enter your meter readings online. You’ll be notified in advance of being switched to Time-of-Use pricing directly through the mail with an education kit containing information on how to take advantage of Time-of-Use prices.
How to read your dial meter
Read the dials from right to left and write down the figures in the same order. Not all meters have 5 main dials, but if yours does, it records tens of thousands of kilowatt hours. (Don't worry about the very small dial. It's a test dial to verify the correct reading of dial #1 - you don't need to read it.)
A few points to remember:
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Some of the pointers rotate clockwise, others counter-clockwise.
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When a dial pointer is between two numbers, read the smaller of the two.
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When the dial pointer rests almost squarely on the number, as it does on Dial #4, the dial to the immediate right will determine which number you record.
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On Dial #3, the pointer is between 9 and 0, indicating that it has not yet completed a full revolution. This means that the correct reading for Dial #4 is 8. (If the pointer on Dial #3 had gone past 0, indicating the completion of a full revolution, the reading for Dial #4 would have been 9.)
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Using the sample diagram as an example, read the dials from right to left. In this case, the first number to record is 5, the second is 2, the third is 9, and the fourth 8, for a total reading of 8,925.
The multiplier
- If your meter has four main dials, it records thousands of kilowatt hours. You'll see the words "mult x 10" on the face of your meter — that means when you calculate your usage, you multiply the reading by 10.
- If your meter has five main dials, it records tens of thousands of kilowatt hours, and you don't have to multiply.
How to read your digital meter
Reading a digital meter is easy. Simply read the meter like you would an odometer on a car — read the numbers from left to right.
NOTE: Your kWh reading will be displayed for four seconds followed by a one second display of ‘88888’. This will be continuous.
What is a kilowatt hour?
One kilowatt hour (kWh) is 1,000 watts of electricity used in one hour. That's equivalent to the power required to light a 100-watt light bulb for 10 hours, or to operate a standard 5,000 watt electric clothes dryer for approximately 12 minutes.
Your meter is reliable
Before installation, all electricity meters must meet strict accuracy requirements set by Measurement Canada. Once installed, meters are periodically checked by Hydro One Networks and government inspectors to ensure they continue to give accurate readings.
If you have questions or concerns regarding a high bill login to My Account Self Service and use the online tool to understand why.