The Ultimate Guide to Meter Reading: Accurately Calculating Your Electricity Bill

Electricity meter is a device used to measure the electrical energy consumption of appliances. Join us to learn how to read a single-phase electricity meter to calculate your household electricity bill accurately!

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1 Understanding Your Electric Meter’s Parameters

Parameter Meaning
220V The standard voltage for an electric meter.
10(40)A
  • 10A is the standard current of the meter, ensuring accuracy up to 40A of voltage overload.
  • If the current exceeds 40A, the meter will still run but may not be accurate and risks malfunction.
  • This also applies to other current ratings like 5(20)A, 20(80)A, and 40(120)A.
450 rev/kWh To obtain 1kWh, the meter disk must turn 450 revolutions. This also applies to 900 rev/kWh and 225 rev/kWh.
Class 2 Has a 2% error margin across the entire measurement range. This is considered the most accurate class. Generally, the smaller the class, the higher the accuracy.
50Hz The frequency of the electrical grid.

These parameters help us understand our monthly electricity costs and allow us to optimize our energy usage. They also enable us to regularly check our electrical current to ensure our home’s electrical system is stable and leak-free.

Parameters help us understand our monthly electricity costs.

2 Guide to Reading Your Electric Meter Accurately

How to Read a Single-Phase Electric Meter

Single-phase electric meters are commonly used and familiar to many. Here’s a basic guide to understanding and reading a single-phase electric meter:

Typically, a single-phase electric meter will have six digits, with the first five digits in black indicating the amount of electricity consumed. The last digit, in red, represents the decimal place. Together, these five black digits give us a value from 00000 to 99999 kWh, which is the number before the decimal point.

Example: If the meter reading is 456789, the value is read as 45,678.9 kWh. However, nowadays, the decimal point is often ignored, and the reading is simplified to 45,678 kWh. The omitted digit will be added to the next billing cycle.

How to read a single-phase electric meter

Three-Phase Electric Meter (Direct)

A three-phase electric meter in electronics includes six digits that measure total energy consumption. This energy is used during three different time periods: regular hours (T1), peak hours (T2), and off-peak hours with low electricity demand (T3). The energy consumption for T2 and T3 will be displayed on the screen. T1 can be calculated by subtracting T2 and T3 from the total.

Typically, a direct three-phase electric meter includes ratings like 10(20)A, 20(40)A, 30(60)A, and 50(100)A. When reading a 10(20)A meter, the first five digits in black represent the kWh value, and the last red digit represents 0.1kWh. Other parameters are read similarly.

Example: If the meter reading is 123456, the value is read as 12,345.6 kWh. However, nowadays, the last digit is often ignored, leaving 12,345 kW.

How to read a three-phase electric meter (direct)

Three-Phase Electric Meter (Indirect)

An indirect three-phase electric meter has a standard rating of 5A and includes indirect measurement symbols. The meter reading consists of six digits, with the first five black digits representing 1kWh and the last red digit representing 0.1kWh.

Example: If the reading is 345678, the value is read as 34,567.8 kWh.

However, this is just the meter reading. To calculate the actual electricity consumption, you need to multiply it by the current transformer and measurement transformer ratios. Typically, in low-voltage networks, only current transformers are used for measurement.

So, if the meter reading is 345678 and the current transformer ratio is 100/5A = 20, the actual electricity consumption is: 34,567.8 x 20 = 691,356kWh.

Three-phase electric meter (indirect)

3 Easy Guide to Calculating Your Electricity Bill

To calculate your electricity bill based on kWh, kW, and W, we can use the following conventions and formulas:

The formula for calculating your electricity bill based on kWh used in a month is:

Electricity cost (VND) = (Price of the ith tier in the price table) x (Number of days in the billing cycle) x (Number of households sharing the meter) / (Number of days in the previous month)

Next, multiply the calculated kWh by the retail price and add VAT to get the total amount payable. Here are the price references for the different tiers:

  • Tier 1 (0 to 50 kWh): 1,484 VND
  • Tier 2 (51 to 100 kWh): 1,533 VND
  • Tier 3 (101 to 200 kWh): 1,786 VND
  • Tier 4 (201 to 300 kWh): 2,242 VND
  • Tier 5 (301 to 400 kWh): 2,503 VND
  • Tier 6 (401 kWh and above): 2,587 VND

Note: The above prices are for reference only and may change over time based on the actual prices set by the electricity company.

How to calculate your electricity bill based on kWh, kW, and W

4 Tips to Save Electricity Effectively

  • Use LED lights: Replace traditional incandescent bulbs with LED lights. LED lights use less energy and last up to three times longer than incandescent bulbs.
  • Turn off unused appliances: Make sure to turn off lights, fans, TVs, computers, and other electrical appliances when not in use. They still consume energy in standby mode.
  • Use energy-saving modes: If available, enable energy-saving modes on appliances like washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and computers.
  • Utilize solar energy: If possible, install a solar energy system to take advantage of sunlight and reduce reliance on the electrical grid.

Energy-saving mode on Aqua Inverter 9.5 kg AQD-A952J BK Washing Machine

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Frequently asked questions

Accurate meter reading is important to ensure you’re not overpaying on your electricity bill. By calculating it yourself, you can verify the charges and identify any discrepancies or errors, which can help you manage your energy usage and costs effectively.

It is recommended to read your meter regularly, ideally once a month. This allows you to track your energy usage and identify any unexpected increases or decreases in your consumption. Regular readings also help you catch any potential errors in billing.

There are two common types of meters: digital and analog. Digital meters display numbers directly, and you simply read the numbers left to right. Analog meters have dials, and you read the numbers in a specific order, noting any dials between two numbers and adding or subtracting accordingly.

To calculate your bill, you’ll need your current and previous meter readings, as well as the price per unit of electricity. Subtract the previous reading from the current one to find the units consumed. Then, multiply the units by the price per unit to get your electricity cost.

If you suspect an error, first recheck your meter reading and calculations. Compare your readings with previous months to identify any unusual patterns. If you still suspect an error, contact your energy provider and request a meter test or an explanation of the charges.

Yes, regular meter readings help you understand your energy usage patterns. You can identify which appliances or activities consume the most energy and make adjustments to save money. You can also set energy-saving goals and track your progress over time.

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