How does PG&E get electricity meter readings in single family homes?
Question:Basically I would like to know how PG&E bills me for my electricity use.
Answers:
Usually there is a meter on the outside of the house that is read by a meter reader every month or two. If they can't get in the yard or outrun your dog, they use binoculars. Good Luck !!
From the meters outside with a scan type of gun.
National grid is my electric company
A few years back they installed digital meters with some type of transponder in them-now they can read all the meters on a street from a truck--nobody comes to read them(in basement)and I never get an estimated bill
Todays electric meters are typically radio read by a meter reader who drives down your street and the radio in his vehicle will automatically download your electrical useage. Some elaborate utilities even use a type of radio umbrella system that will do an entire area without anyone even leaving the office.
Now to answer your real question. The utility will record how many kilowatt hours you have used since the last billing cycle and bill you accordingly. The kilowatt hours are based upon the appliances, lights, etc that you have on in your home at any one time. No matter what time of day or night the meter still records the useage. In the good old days the energy that was being drawn would power an electric motor in the meter which caused the dial to spin and it (through a series of gears) would cause the little dials to turn and indicate a reading of your kilowatt hour useage. We used to be able to take out the meter and reverse it in the socket and make it run backwards. They soon figured out that ploy and made the meters uni-directional. They are much more sophysticated now and use some digital meters that do away with all of the mechanics, etc.
There are some other factors that effect your bill however, peak useage if you have any large loads or if your service is single phase or three phase, etc. There are also the taxes and line usegae fees, etc. But the main thing in your electric bill is how much power you use; pure and simple.
Hope this helps!
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