About Meters

Your Meter

Electricity Usage

Electricity meters are installed by Toronto Hydro-Electric System to measure electrical usage. Electricity use is measured in kiloWatt-hours (kWh).

• One kWh is the amount of electricity 10 100 Watt bulbs will use in one hour.

Meter Performance

All electricity meters used by Toronto Hydro bear a seal from the Legal Metrology Branch of Industry Canada (Measurement Canada). The seal indicates that your meter, or a meter manufactured in the same group, has been tested for performance, reliability and accuracy before installation.

Hydro Owned

Your electricity meter is owned, installed and maintained by Toronto Hydro-Electric System. It is an offence to tamper with an electricity meter.

Meter Checks

Toronto Hydro technicians have extensive training in the operation of meters and can perform an accuracy test on site.

Industry Canada also carries out random checks of installed meters. If a meter fails such a test, all meters manufactured in that group will be removed and individually tested.

More Information

If you have any questions about your electricity meter, call Customer Care at 416.542.8000.

Meter Reading

Reading of Residential Meters

For most of our residential customers, meters are read six times per year and you will receive an invoice six times per year. You can budget accordingly by calling our Customer Care staff to determine the invoicing date for your area, or you can determine the schedule based on the invoice date of your first bill. Once you receive your first invoice, you will be invoiced at approximately the same time every two months.

Meter Access

To ensure that we issue you a correct bill, which accurately reflects your electrical usage, it's necessary to gain access to your meter on a regular basis. In the event that our Meter Reader cannot gain entry, a card will be left for you to record your meter reading. To avoid an estimated bill, it's important that you contact us as soon as you receive this card to register an actual meter reading.

Estimated Reading

An estimated reading takes into account past electricity use as well as adjustments relating to the season. Any differences will be adjusted at the time of the next meter reading. Estimated readings only take place when we are unable to gain access to read your meter.

Reading your meter

Your meter has either four or five dials on it. Some hands move clockwise and others move counter clockwise. All hands move from 1 to 2 to 3, and so on. From left to right, read and record the placement of the hand on each dial. If the hand on the dial is between numbers, always use the lowest of the two numbers. The only exception is if the hand is between 0 and 9, in which case you would use 9.

Meter Reading Example

Meters have 4 or 5 dials and are relatively simple to read. Read the dials right to left and write the figures in the same order. Here is an example to follow. Note some of the pointers turn clock-wise, others counter-clockwise.

Dial #1
When the pointer rests squarely on a number, as it does on Dial #1, record that number. (5)

Dial #2
When the dial pointer is between two numbers, as it is on Dial #2, read the smaller of the two. (2)

Dial #3
On Dial #3, the pointer is between 9 and 0, indicating the pointer has not yet completed a full revolution. The reading for dial #3 is 9. (9)

Dial #4
When the dial pointer rests almost squarely on a number, as it does on Dial #4, the Dial to the immediate right will determine which number you record. Dial #3 indicates as incomplete revolution so Dial #4 is 8. (8)

Dial #5
The dial pointer is between two numbers so the smaller of the two is read. (0)

How to record
As in the drawing, read the dials from right to left, the first number to record is 5; the second is 2; the third is 9; the fourth 8; and the fifth 0; for a total reading of 08925 kWh.

IMPORTANT
Some meters record only 1/10 of the energy used. This is shown on your meter by a "Mult. X10" imprint on the faceplate, just below the dials. It means your reading must be multiplied by 10 when you calculate kWh used.

Ways to register your meter reading

• Submit your reading online - Visit www.torontohydro.com/meter to record your meter reading. Detailed instructions on our Web site will assist you with reading both dial meters and digital meters.
• Touch Tone telephone - Please call our Call Centre (416.542-8000) any time. Our 24-hour Interactive Voice Recognition system will provide you with an automated meter reading option.
• Rotary Dial Telephone - Please call us during business hours to report your meter reading to a customer service representative.

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