Reading the Meter
How We Read Your Meter
Pensacola Energy uses automated meter reading (AMR) devices on all of our natural gas meters to ensure your meter reading is timely and accurate. The AMR wireless meter-reading device is a radio transmitter that is mounted directly to the existing meter. The gas meter is the same as always, only now an AMR device is programmed to periodically transmit your meter readings to our office. In addition, the dials on the face of the meter serve as a backup and can be read manually at any time.
Natural Gas Meter Audit
As part of Pensacola Energy’s commitment to provide you with excellent customer service, Pensacola Energy will be performing a manual inspection of all natural gas meters in the near future. You may see Pensacola Energy representatives in the field doing these manual checks. This routine audit is done to ensure the accuracy of Pensacola Energy’s automated meter reading (AMR) system. Questions about this process can be directed to 850-474-5300 or info@pensacolaenergy.com. Thank you for choosing natural gas!
How to Read Your Meter
Your natural gas meter is a precise measuring device that meets strict government standards. We check your meter regularly and repair it when necessary. As an additional safeguard, our computer compares your bill with the month’s weather patterns, current natural gas rates and the billing history of your residence. If your usage appears abnormal, we will get a second meter reading for verification. If the original reading was incorrect, we will make the necessary adjustments to your bill. We may also attempt to contact you to verify unusual changes in usage patterns.
If you would like to keep up with how much natural gas you and your family are using each month, you can take your own monthly readings. Your meter measures the amount of natural gas that you use in hundreds of cubic feet. This measurement can be read directly from the dials on the face of the meter.
NOTE: Most meters have “extra” dials without numbers. These dials are used for testing and calibrating; they are not part of the meter reading.
As shown in the examples below, there are two styles of indexes used on meters in Pensacola Energy’s natural gas system. Please identify the index type that is installed on your meter and follow the appropriate instructions.
1. Circular-Dial Index: Notice that some dials rotate clockwise, while others rotate counterclockwise. When the pointer is between two numbers, the smaller number is the correct one to read. Read each dial in order from left to right. Record the number that each dial hand just passed. The reading in our illustration is 0-8-2-7.
2. Direct-Dial Index: Gas meters with a direct-dial index have a series of numbers displayed, like a digital clock. The numbers on this index are read from left to right. The reading in our illustration is 3-7-1-5.
To determine how much natural gas has been used since the previous reading, simply subtract the previous reading from the current one. If needed, you may retrieve the previous month’s reading from your last monthly bill.
By reading your own meter, you not only double-check the accuracy of your bills, but you also learn to monitor and budget natural gas consumption in your home.