Energy meter is a tool that records the amount of
electricity or gas used by a residence or an organization. It is eminently
imperative for every city, state and country to record their gas and
electricity consumption. The term energy meter is used more for an electricity
meter rather than a gas meter. Energy
meter records electricity in units, unit usually being kilowatt hour. The energy meter is a box having a clock
like device embedded in it, which exhibits the power consumed in watts.
Now-a-days, many energy meters have digital devices which present the figures
in a digitized format. All households have an energy meter affixed inside and the residential complexes also have
a meter box. Hospitals, schools and NGO’s should also compulsorily get a meter
because getting the power consumption figures registered is very necessary and
it does not matter who has consumed the units; each unit consumed should be
registered.
Generally
meter reading is done monthly. Energy meter measures the product of current in amperes and voltage in volts
consumed; this product i.e. power is then amalgamated with time and displayed
on the meter box. There are two basic types of energy meters, electromechanical
meter and solid state meter. The electromagnetic meters work by using aluminum
discs which rotates inside the meter box, at a speed in proportion with the
consumption of energy. Therefore, the number of rotations denotes the amount of
power supplied. It is the most commonly used one. Solid state meters are the
modern day meters. These meters display the units of power consumed on a LCD
screen. They not only record the power supplied but they also give out other
information related to electricity load and power supply.
There are
other kinds of meters too like electronic meters which function on Bluetooth
and GPRS technology and give out automatic meter readings and prepayment
electricity meters which supply power on the basis of prepaid cards and tokens.
Energy meters are installed by the power supply companies. Based on the meter
readings that show the units of energy consumed, invoice is made and the
customer should pay the bill accordingly. The energy meter should be maintained properly. If there is anything
wrong with the meter box, pipes, wires, etc., it should be immediately replaced
because it is perilous to make use of such faulty equipments for electricity
work. There are high chances for a short circuit and fire, in such cases.
