Reading & Understanding Your NYSEG Meter

NYSEG reads your meter every other month, when they do not read your meter they create an estimated energy use to bill. To always be billed based on your actual energy use, consider reading the meter on the months NYSEG does not perform an actual meter reading and submit the readings to NYSEG. The next scheduled meter read date is shown on page 1 of your bill.

Ready to Read your NYSEG Meter? 

You may have an electric meter with a row of clock-type dials or an LCD (liquid crystal display). Both register the total amount of electricity you use, measured in kilowatt-hours (kwh). If you have a natural gas meter, it will have clock-type dials with rotating hands that indicate natural gas use.

Meters with Clock-Type Dials

Whether you have an electric meter or natural gas meter, the basics of meter reading are the same.   

Electric Meter

On an electric meter, the dials represent the amount of electricity used in single units, tens, hundreds, thousands and ten-thousands of kwh, from right to left. The meter may have four or five dials.

Natural Gas Meter

On a natural gas meter, the dials represent the amount of natural gas measured in volumes of hundreds of cubic feet (ccf), and just like the electric meter, the lower amounts are to the right. The natural gas meter has either four or five dials, and one or two test dials that you may ignore. The basic rule for reading a meter is that when the pointer is between two numbers, always read the lower number. When the pointer is between 0 and 1, zero is the lower number. Remember that the pointer is always moving toward the larger number, so when the pointer is between 9 and 0, zero is really representing 10. Therefore 9 is the lower number. If it is difficult to tell if the pointer has passed a number or if it is still approaching the number, refer to the dial next to it on the right. If the pointer on the dial to the right has passed zero, read the higher number. However, if the pointer to the right has not yet passed zero, read the lower number.

Ways to Read the Meter and Examples

Option 1 - Direct Number

Read the dials from right to left and record the numbers in the same order as the dials.

1. The pointer on the first dial to the right is between 6 and 7. Remember the rule is to read the lower number. The reading is 6.
2. The pointer on the second dial from the right has passed 4 but hasn’t reached 5. Read it as 4.
3. The pointer on the third dial is directly on 8. The reading is 8.
4. The pointer on the fourth dial is very close to 0 but is still between 9 and 0. Remember that 0 represents 10, so the lower number is 9.
5. The pointer on the fifth dial appears to be on 1; however, the pointer on the dial to its right has not passed 0. Therefore, the correct reading is 0.

Option 2 - Dial Description

Dial description reading allows you to describe the dial positions. By entering the positions with your phone, we will interpret the read. If the hand is between two numbers, for example, 0 and 1, you would enter "0 1." If the hand is directly on a number, you'll be asked to enter the number twice, for example "8 8." This is the easiest and most accurate way to read your meter. Just follow these tips:

1. For each dial, write down the two numbers that the hand is pointing between.
2. If the hand is directly on a number, write the number twice.

Electric Meter with LCD Display (Digital)

Digital meters display a series of digital readouts that cycle continuously. In the kwh display, enter the number shown from left to right. Disregard the date and time displays if they appear.

How to Read Your Meter

Gas and electric meters have clock type dials with rotating hands to indicate usage. The meter may have four or five dials. Each hand rotates in the opposite direction of the preceding dial; either clockwise or counter clockwise.

Option 1 - Direct Number

The correct Direct Reading for the example is: 13905

Direct Number reading allows you to simply read the meters using the following tips:

1. Standing directly in front of the meter, record the position of the hand, starting with the dial on the left.
2. If the hand is between two numbers, always record the lower number. When the hand is between 9 and 0, 0 is considered a 10; therefore, 9 would be the lower number.
3. When the hand is, or appears to be, directly on a number, check the dial to the right. If the hand on the dial to the right is between 9 and 0, record the next lowest number, otherwise use the exact number. See the example, the second dial appears to be a 4; however, it is still a 3 because the third dial is between the 9 and 0.

Please refer to your Meter Reading Record for your meter reading dates.

Option 2 - Dial Description

Dial description reading allows you to describe the dial positions. By entering the positions with your phone, we will interpret the read. This is the easiest and most accurate way to read your meter. Just follow these tips:

1. For each dial, write down the two numbers that the hand is pointing between.
2. If the hand is directly on a number, write the number twice.

Please refer to your Meter Reading Record for your meter reading dates.

Ready to submit your reading? See NYSEG: How do I submit a meter reading?