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Calculating Consumption

Your meter measures and records the amount of electricity you consume. It is a high-precision device that is inspected n accordance with rigorous Industry Canada standards before being installed.

The following three types of meters are most commonly used:

Mechanical meters
They measure energy consumption (kWh).

Electronic meters
They also measure energy consumption (kWh).

Electromechanical meters
They measure energy consumption (kWh) and power demand (kW).

If a company's billing demand does not exceed 40 kW, it has the same type of meter as a residential customer.

Reading your meter

In order to read your meter and bill you for your actual consumption, Hydro-Québec must have access to your meter at all times. How often meters are read depends on your maximum power demand.

Reading your meter means that you will receive accurate bills. Make sure that Hydro-Québec personnel have access to your meter.

Calculating your consumption

If you have a mechanical or electromechanical meter, your consumption is indicated by the meter's four dials (thousands, hundreds, tens and ones). The dials measure kilowatthours (kWh) and work like those on your electricity meter at home.

The pointer position is read on the four dials from left to right. If the pointer is between two digits, record the smaller of the two except if it is between 9 and 0, in which case the reading is 9. On electronic meters, the reading is shown directly on the display.

In the example below, the reading is 2727.

All meters measure cumulative kilowatthours. To calculate your consumption, you must:

take the latest reading and subtract the four-digit number on your previous bill,

THEN

multiply the difference by the multiplier indicated on your bill.

Calculating your power demand

To obtain your power demand in kW and kVA, apply the multiplier shown on your bill to the meter reading (in W and VA), then divide by 1,000. You need not calculate the difference between the current and previous reading since the power demand is reset after each reading.

Electromechanical meters have a digital display that indicates the maximum power demand.

At the Small-Power Business Rate (G), if your power demand remains below 40 kW, you are billed only for your energy consumption in kW. If your power demand exceeds 40 kW but remains below 50 kW, your bill is based only on kW and kWh values. If your power demand exceeds 50 kW, then your demand in kVA is measured and factored into your bill.