How to Read Gas and Electric Meters at Your Business
Get started by locating your electric or gas meter, which is usually on an exterior wall or within a utility room. Analog meters use dials read from left to right, while digital and smart meters display usage directly. Knowing how to read electric meters and gas meters can help your business ensure accurate billing and make energy-saving decisions.
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Key Takeaways
Most commercial properties have both gas and electric meters, which can be analog, digital, or smart models. Learning how to read your meters can help you confirm accurate billing, catch equipment issues, and track your usage patterns over time. Even if your business has a smart meter, checking your readings is a simple habit to help manage overhead costs.
- Commercial properties often have more than one meter type, sometimes several
- Regular readings help you verify bills and catch usage spikes tied to equipment issues
- Smart meters transmit data automatically, but manual spot-checks are still important
- Keeping your own reading records gives you backup if you need to dispute billing issues
Why Should Your Business Read Its Utility Meters?
Reading your company’s energy meters regularly can help you catch billing errors before they become major expenses. Utility companies typically read meters on a set schedule, but mistakes can still happen. Comparing your own meter readings against your monthly bill is the easiest way to confirm you’re being billed accurately. Unusual readings or usage spikes can also highlight larger issues, like aging equipment or your HVAC system running inefficiently.
Manually tracking your monthly usage over time can also help you understand seasonal usage patterns and budget more accurately as demand shifts throughout the year. Even if your facility has a smart meter, it’s a good idea to check your readings periodically to make sure automated transmissions aren’t failing or lagging, which can ultimately impact your monthly bills.
Common Types of Electric and Gas Meters
Many businesses have more than one meter type, especially if you use both electricity and natural gas. Knowing how to identify what type is on your property can simplify the meter reading process.
Gas Meters vs. Electric Meters: What’s the Difference?
How to Read Different Types of Utility Meters
From analog meters to digital and smart models, each meter reading is a bit different. Learning how to read each type of energy meter helps you record your usage accurately and catch billing mistakes early.
How to Read an Analog Meter
Read each dial from left to right, recording the number closest to the pointer. If the pointer is in-between two digits, record the lower number. One of the most common mistakes is misreading a dial that’s mid-rotation, which can throw off your entire reading by a full unit.
How to Read a Digital Meter
Record the whole numbers on your digital meter’s display, ignoring anything after a decimal point since that reflects partial usage. If your meter has more than one screen, cycle through each display to confirm you’re recording the correct reading for your account.
How to Read a Smart Meter
Smart meter readings are automatically transmitted to your utility company, so manual readings usually aren’t required. If you want to check it for your own records, the display will cycle through your cumulative usage in kilowatt-hours.
Where Are Commercial Electric and Gas Meters Located?
If your business operates in a single-tenant building, your energy meters will likely be located on a back or side exterior wall. If you have a smart meter, it will likely be located inside your building within a mechanical or service room. If you can’t find an outdoor meter, check your basement, loading dock, storage area, or utility closet.
If you share the building with other businesses, look for a large bank of meters, either on an exterior wall or within a communal space. Each meter should be labeled with unit numbers for the building. If your meters aren’t marked, reach out to your landlord or property management company to determine which one is assigned to your business.
Helpful Tools to Simplify Meter Readings
How to Avoid Common Meter Reading Errors
Meter reading mistakes can throw off your budget and billing expectations. Five simple habits can keep your meter readings accurate and consistent every month.
How Do Meter Readings Affect Your Energy Bill?
Every billing period, your utility company uses meter readings to calculate your company’s monthly supply costs. If weather conditions or service issues impact your utility’s ability to gather a reading, they may estimate your usage based on historical data. Keeping your own meter reading records helps confirm accurate billing and can provide additional proof if you need to request a billing adjustment based on estimated usage.
Manage Overhead Costs with Regular Meter Readings
Reading your gas and electric meters regularly is one of the simplest ways to stay on top of your company’s energy costs. Before your next billing cycle, remember to:
- – Determine whether your meters are analog, digital, or smart
- – Confirm where each meter is located on your property
- – Record your readings to catch billing errors early
- – Contact your utility to resolve inaccuracies or equipment issues
Frequently Asked Questions About Commercial Energy Meters
What should I do if my gas or electric meter isn’t working?
Contact your local utility company as soon as you notice a malfunction in your gas or electric meter to schedule repairs or replacements. Avoid attempting any repairs on your own because tampering with a meter can result in fines or delayed billing corrections.
Can weather affect my gas or electric meter readings?
Extreme weather conditions like snow, ice, or flooding can block access to your meter or interfere with an accurate reading. This is one of the reasons why a utility company may issue an estimated bill instead of an actual reading during severe weather events.
Who is responsible for reading utility meters in a commercial building?
In most cases, your utility company is responsible for reading meters; however, the frequency depends on your account and meter type. For example, a landlord or property manager for a multi-tenant commercial building could be responsible for coordinating meter access and confirming which unit corresponds to your business.
Can I move my gas or electric meter if my building is being renovated?
You will need approval from your utility company to relocate an electric or gas meter since they own and maintain the equipment. Contact your local utility early in the renovation planning process to schedule a meter relocation and avoid construction delays.
Why is my smart meter not sending readings automatically?
If your smart meter isn’t transmitting readings, you may have a connectivity issue or other type of malfunction. Contact your utility company to troubleshoot the connection issues or request meter repair services.
Can I estimate my bill based on meter readings?
You can estimate the supply portion of your energy bill based on meter readings. Start by recording your meter reading at the beginning and end of your billing cycle and calculating the difference to find your total usage. Multiply your usage by your energy rate to get a close estimate of your supply costs before your bill arrives.
Smarter Energy Savings Start Here
Accurate meter readings are just the starting point. At Integrity Energy, our team provides the expertise and support to turn your usage data into a long-term energy strategy that maximizes monthly savings. Connect with our brokers to start saving today.
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Jordan Domingo
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