Wednesday 24 September 2014

Electrical Metering Services Facts That You Need to Know

Electric meters are fitted in commercial as well as domestic establishments, to keep a tab on the amount of electricity used. As per the kind of establishment and the load of that particular establishment, the single phase or two phases or a 3 phase metering service is installed. The bill is generated by calculating the net usage of electricity over a cycle of a specified period. The main unit of measurement is Kwh.

Single Phase: Cost effective and widely used in residential establishments. They are used in areas with low demand and if the residence has many electrical appliances such as multiple ACs then a 2 phase or three phase metering system are needed.

Three Phase: When the same load is supplied by three different supplied the system is called a three phase metering service. It is mostly used in high demand areas such as commercial establishments or large residences. Unlike the previous types of single and two phase, three phase is a significant development as all the three voltages are completely in equilibrium.


Solar - Gross, Net, Sun Power: Apart from the regular kind of meters which we all know about solar power uses a different technology. Upgrading your meter would mean you can check the amount of solar power that is fed into the grid.

Off-Peak Time of use: Generally, demand for electricity falls between 11 pm and 7 am. This is because of the reduction in activities significantly. To encourage people to utilise this time power companies offer discounts and special offers during this period. Since, most people are asleep during that time of the night it is generally utilised by charging all the appliances. That helps save lots of money on electric bills and also keeps consumption levels from falling drastically. So it is a win-win situation for both the consumer as well as the power supplier.

How you judiciously use off-peak electricity will depend on the kind of meter you have at home. Here is a look at some of the things that you need to consider.
  • Single meters have a uniform rate and do not have such discounts on offer. As matter of fact there is nothing called Off-Peak time rates in case of single meters
  • There are types of meters called Interval Meters which measure the electricity consumed at peak time, off-peak time as well as shoulder rates.
  • Two rate meters are programmed to maintain just two records. They measure the electricity consumed in peak time and during off-peak time.
  • Off peak or Controlled metering devices use a uniform rate for all the appliances in your house apart from one. For example, a hot water service which consumes power only at off-peak hours and is kept out of this meter as it is charged at off-peak hour rates.
Electric metering is a concept that’s gained a lot of prominences today. If you are from Sydney, always look out for a level 2 service provider Sydney. A level 2 electrician will know all about the electrical works and will help you to solve your problems efficiently. Looking for a level 2 electrician also ensures your safety.