Learning to read your electric meter is crucial if you own a home or a business. Kilowatt-hours (kWh) are the units used to measure the total energy a residence or building consumes, and your electric meter displays this information. By being familiar with the electric meter, you may compare the expenses of each month’s electricity use and make adjustments to lower the amount of electricity you use, which can help you save money and energy.
It also allows you to verify that the state electric board is appropriately providing you with appropriate electricity, which is an important step toward preventing unnecessary overcharges on current bill payment. However, a startling number of people have never even seen the face of their electric meter in their whole lives. It is a common misconception that it is difficult to understand and often unnecessary to check your electricity meter or to APDCL view bill unless there is a problem. But the reality is that reading an electric meter is not difficult at all, and owners of homes and businesses should make it a habit to check their meters regularly.
Important terms you must know to read your electric meter
Type of supply & load connected
The quantity of energy supplied to a meter is called the “Connected Load.” In this instance, the value is determined in kW. This is the maximum peak kW the devices connected to the meter can draw from the electrical system. It does not consider the energy you use and will only affect your APDCL view bill in the form of a fixed price. In addition to the connected load, it is responsible for determining whether the connection will be single-phase or three-phase. If the actual load for the month is greater than the sanctioned load for that month, the DISCOMs may choose to increase the amount of the fixed costs.
Consumption unit
The number of kWh used up in a single month is the equivalent of the units consumed. The information can be obtained by comparing the meter readings for two months preceding each other. This is the total quantity of electricity used by all devices plugged into the meter throughout the month. You will need to decrease this figure to lessen the total amount you have to pay for power each month in APDCL view bill. Utilizing the consumption history of the various appliances can serve as a useful signal for determining which ones have the greatest overall electric consumption rate.
Fixed Charges
No matter how much electricity you consume, you will always pay the fixed charges or paying the same amount of money in APDCL view bill. Generally, these are to cover the fundamental expenses associated with providing electricity services, such as the upkeep of poles, labor, cables, and other apparatus.
Electricity duty
It is a common practice in several of the states in India to enable the amount of electricity tax you pay to be determined by the amount of electricity you use. As a result, you will be required to pay a higher electricity duty if you consume a higher quantity of power. Therefore, to lower the electricity duty on your APDCL view bill, you will need to lower the amount of electricity you utilize monthly.
Tariff structure
You can figure out how much you owe on your APDCL view bill by calculating the tariff structure that applies to your account. This can be attributed to several different things, such as additional payments for excess units used, rates, and any regulations imposed on you by your power provider.
Phase
The current or voltage that flows between a wire and the neutral is referred to phases. You can connect with either a single-phase or a three-phase system. If you consider this from the perspective of how the load is distributed, you might have a better understanding of this. The ability of a three-phase connection to manage enormous loads, as opposed to a single-phase connection, is one of the most notable distinctions between the two types of connections.
Tariff category
It depends on whether your power line connected to the electricity grid is used for residential, agricultural, commercial, or industrial purposes. This will define which category it falls under. You can choose the fee structure for your organization once you have been placed in a category. You have the option to manually compute the APDCL view bill, but doing so might be a difficult and time-consuming process. It is also possible that you will be unable to determine the precise quantities for any reason. Therefore, going to the website of the electricity board to verify the amount of your APDCL view bill is always the best and most convenient option.