By reading your meter, you can verify that you have been billed correctly. On your electric meter there are either four or five dials that rotate in opposite directions. Sample Electric Meter
 Reading Your Meter
Start with the left dial on the meter (Dial B on a four dial meter and Dial A on a five dial meter). 
Dial A reads 8: The pointer is between 8 and 9, so you record the smaller number, 8. Dial B reads 5: The pointer is between 5 and 6, so you record the smaller number, 5. Dial C reads 1: The pointer is between 1 and 2, so you record the smaller number, 1. Dial D reads 0: The pointer appears to be on the number 1. You look at the dial immediately to the right (Dial E in this example). The pointer on Dial E is between 9 and 0, meaning that it has not completed its full rotation. Therefore, Dial D is still 0. Dial E reads 9: The pointer is between 9 and 0, so you record the smaller number, 9. The final reading, from left to right, is 85109 kWh (kilowatts). Helpful Tips If the pointer is between two numbers, always choose the smaller number. If a pointer looks like it's exactly on a number, always look to the dial immediately to the right. If the pointer on the right dial is between 0 and 1, record the larger number on the left dial. If the pointer on the right dial is between 9 and 0, record the smaller number on the left dial. Remember, the dials rotate in opposite directions.
Calculate Your Energy Use
Read your meter at the beginning and at the end of a specific period of time. Subtract the first reading from the second reading to calculate the number of kWh used. Divide the kWh used by the number of days between readings to calculate the kWh per day. Meter Tampering
Tampering with a electric meter to make it show less consumption, or bypassing the meter entirely, is illegal and dangerous. When someone uses electricity without paying for it, others pay more. Call 719-448-4800 if you know of anyone tampering with a electric meter. | 
