Electricity power meters

[KoRRupT]

Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower???

 

[Phil Allison]

Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

** The rate for domestic power ( stoves, air con and GPOs ) and light
does not vary.

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower???

** Off peak **hot water systems** use control tones on the AC line.

So they come on late at night when demand is low.



............ Phil

 

[mc]

stick a great big magnet next to it that will slow it down ...

I assume some sort of pulses via elictricity wires

 

[the swan]

Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

They are usually metered separately. In moderm meters there may be more
than one logical meter in a single physical meter.

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower???

For switching the off-peak loads on and off a 'decabit' puling system is
used (in NSW). This comprises of a series of pulses superimposed on the
power line. The frequency of the pulses varies accoring to the
distribution company, but usually between 750Hz and 1500Hz. Pulse length
is around 1 second if memory serves me correctly and there are 10 pulses
used to address a group of meters.

 

[Richard Parris]

Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

My house has two meters and a timeswitch that switches between the two. So
between 7am and 11pm my electricity is being metered by meter one, and
between 11pm and 7am my electricity is being metered by meter two.

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower???

No. Even the electronic meters are still two or more 'registers' govened by
a time switch. I only know about residential supplies though.

Rich

 

[KoRRupT]

thanks for the replies so far guys. the meter at my property is about
30years old with only 1 dial, so there is no differetiation between peak and
off peak.

sometimes i feel that the elec. comp. is ripping me off by only
'guestimating' my usage. (my meter is not readily available to be read
because it's behind a roller door and also i shut the front gate with a
'beware - vicious dog sign')

what key words should i search for in google to find some text on this
stuff?

 

[Richard Parris]

thanks for the replies so far guys. the meter at my property is about
30years old with only 1 dial, so there is no differetiation between peak and
off peak.

They usually have 5 dials on the front (or sometimes a sequential type
arrangement - like your car).

sometimes i feel that the elec. comp. is ripping me off by only
'guestimating' my usage. (my meter is not readily available to be read
because it's behind a roller door and also i shut the front gate with a
'beware - vicious dog sign')

Move your bloody meter!

what key words should i search for in google to find some text on this
stuff?

Legal aspect of them estimating your usage, or about meters?

 

[Phil Allison]

and off peak.

They usually have 5 dials on the front (or sometimes a sequential type
arrangement - like your car).

** He means only one meter.



.......... Phil

 

[Richard Parris]

** He means only one meter.

Unless I missunderstood you KoRRupT, I thought that you were being billed a
Peak / Offpeak Tariff? If you've only got one meter it sounds like they've
stuffed your billing.

 

[Phil Allison]

Unless I missunderstood you KoRRupT, I thought that you were being billed a
Peak / Offpeak Tariff? If you've only got one meter it sounds like they've
stuffed your billing.

Here is the OP.

"Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower??? "


** Notice - "the meter".

The OP thinks off peak rates apply to all households .




........... Phil

 

[Richard Parris]

billed

Here is the OP.

"Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower??? "


** Notice - "the meter".

The OP thinks off peak rates apply to all households .

Ah, in that case I'm happy again.

 

[Fred]

Go to your local supplier website for info on tariffs
example
http://www.agl.com.au/AGL/At+Your+Service/SA/Account+enquiries/Understanding+your+price+plan.htm
You should be able to arrange a meter reading by calling your supplier.
BTW electricity prices in South Australia have recently jumped up for
residential customers, but have fallen for big business. It's user pays
these days, no more cross subsidy.

 

[Mainlander]

Ok I'm really confused about household power meters.

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

Does the transmission line have some kind of signal pulsing through it or
something to trick the meter to go faster or slower???

If you are charged at more than one rate there would be more than one
meter.

 

[Mainlander]

thanks for the replies so far guys. the meter at my property is about
30years old with only 1 dial, so there is no differetiation between peak and
off peak.

sometimes i feel that the elec. comp. is ripping me off by only
'guestimating' my usage. (my meter is not readily available to be read
because it's behind a roller door and also i shut the front gate with a
'beware - vicious dog sign')

what key words should i search for in google to find some text on this
stuff?

Don't need google, just common sense. YOUR METER MUST BE ACCESSIBLE i.e.
spend some money to put it on the outside of the building where it is
readily accessivle.

 

[Mainlander]

Unless I missunderstood you KoRRupT, I thought that you were being billed a
Peak / Offpeak Tariff? If you've only got one meter it sounds like they've
stuffed your billing.

I believe he is saying it is charged at the same rate, but some of it is
only supplied off peak i.e. the relay switches off during peek hours,
using ripple tones.

 

[Rod Speed]

thanks for the replies so far guys. the meter at my
property is about 30years old with only 1 dial, so
there is no differetiation between peak and off peak.

Are you actually being BILLED for offpeak power use ?

Plenty of places that dont have offpeak hot
water dont actually get charged for any offpeak
power at all, and only have a single meter.

sometimes i feel that the elec. comp. is ripping me off
by only 'guestimating' my usage. (my meter is not readily
available to be read because it's behind a roller door and
also i shut the front gate with a 'beware - vicious dog sign')

Corse they can estimate it in that situation.

 

[Peter Jetson]

How do electricity company tell how much electricity you've use during peak
and off-peak periods?

Not exactly sure what you're asking. Do you mean how does it know
whether the consumption is peak or off peak?

Peter

 

[KoRRupT]

| thanks for the replies so far guys. the meter at my property is about
| 30years old with only 1 dial, so there is no differetiation between peak
and
| off peak.
|
| sometimes i feel that the elec. comp. is ripping me off by only
| 'guestimating' my usage. (my meter is not readily available to be read
| because it's behind a roller door and also i shut the front gate with a
| 'beware - vicious dog sign')
|
| what key words should i search for in google to find some text on this
| stuff?


Ok this is what I've summarised so far...

A. Domestic power rate does not change.

B. Off-peak power metering is turned on automatically by a tone on the AC
line and is measured on a 2nd meter.
- if so... why does my bill have a peal/off-peak tariff if I've only got
a single meter? does that mean they stuffed up my billing?

C. If I relocate the meter box, who should pay for it? It's on the carport
side of the house towards the back. There's no practical place to install
it - particularly I have to close the gate to stop the dog running away.
What should I do?

 

[KLR]

| thanks for the replies so far guys. the meter at my property is about
| 30years old with only 1 dial, so there is no differetiation between peak
and
| off peak.
|
| sometimes i feel that the elec. comp. is ripping me off by only
| 'guestimating' my usage. (my meter is not readily available to be read
| because it's behind a roller door and also i shut the front gate with a
| 'beware - vicious dog sign')
|
| what key words should i search for in google to find some text on this
| stuff?


Ok this is what I've summarised so far...

A. Domestic power rate does not change.

B. Off-peak power metering is turned on automatically by a tone on the AC
line and is measured on a 2nd meter.
- if so... why does my bill have a peal/off-peak tariff if I've only got
a single meter? does that mean they stuffed up my billing?

C. If I relocate the meter box, who should pay for it? It's on the carport
side of the house towards the back. There's no practical place to install
it - particularly I have to close the gate to stop the dog running away.
What should I do?

two types of metering like this I have seen

1> 2 normal meters - one is just for the normal power
and 1 for the hot water - (off peak. tariff). A 3rd enclosure (that
looks much like a meter) has a relay inside it that will cut off the
power to the hot water system at certain times (ie - peak load times).

With this system - all power used on the off peak circuit is off peak
power - but it isnt continuous power.

2. A single meter with 2 separate dials inside. The relay (or
whatever mechanism used) inside would move the drive mechanism between
the peak and off peak dials depending on the peak and off peak times.
I would assume this type is for appliances where the power is
continuously available - but if you want to use it in peak times - you
pay a premium rate.

In both cases the relay is activated by control tones that are sent
over the distribution network.


If you have only one meter - then Im certain you are paying a shitload
of $ for your hot water (if electric) as it cant be possible to meter
it separately.


Of course - they might be doing something like giving you an off peak
rate calculated on an average % of power used etc or some
unexplainable thing like that.


As far as the metering access goes - maybe you should call your
electricity supplier and ask for suggestions, also ask them about the
off peak rates etc, maybe to get them to inspect your setup and advise
as to possibly get off peak installed etc. Might save you a good
amount of money

 

[Rod Speed]

Ok this is what I've summarised so far...

A. Domestic power rate does not change.

B. Off-peak power metering is turned on
automatically by a tone on the AC line

Its off peak DEVICES that are turned off and on.
And that isnt always by tones on the line, it can still
be done on a time basis by a clock in the meter box.

and is measured on a 2nd meter.

Correct. Tho that isnt necessarily physically a
separate meter with the most modern meters.

Its possible that they did change the meter
in the last few years and you didnt notice.

They may even have done that due to the access problem.

- if so... why does my bill have a peal/off-peak tariff if I've only
got a single meter? does that mean they stuffed up my billing?

Quite likely. Do you actually have a storage electrical hot water service ?
With you still getting hot water even with the power turned off ?

C. If I relocate the meter box, who should pay for it?
You.

It's on the carport side of the house towards the back.
There's no practical place to install it - particularly I
have to close the gate to stop the dog running away.

What should I do?

You could organise the fences/gates so the dog is in
the backyard, with access still possible to the meter box.

The dog may be a complete wuz and
just wags its tail at the meter reader too.