Reading the Meter
How We Read Your Meter
In the next several months ESP will install automated meter reading (AMR) equipment on all natural gas meters to ensure more accurate readings at a lower cost to the customer. The modification to each customer’s meter will be quick and simple, will require no disruption in service, and does not require the customer to be present.
How To Read Your Meter
Your meter is a precise measuring device that meets strict government standards. We also check your meter regularly and repair it when necessary. As an additional safeguard, our computer compares your bill with the month's weather patterns, current natural gas rates and the billing history of your residence. If something is wrong, we read your meter again and make any necessary adjustments on your bill.
If you would like to keep up with how much natural gas you and your family are using each month, you can make your own monthly readings. Your meter measures the amount of natural gas that you use in hundreds of cubic feet. This measurement is easily read directly from the dials on the face of the meter.
To take your reading, read the row of four dials in order from left to right. Note that some dials rotate clockwise while others operate counterclockwise. Beginning with the dial on the far left, record the number which each dial hand has just passed. The reading in our illustration is 0-8-2-7. To determine how much natural gas has been used since the previous reading simply subtract the previous reading from the current one.
By reading your own meter, you not only double-check the accuracy of your bills but also learn to monitor and budget natural gas consumption in your home.
