The electricity meter is a device we should be familiar with and to which we have a legal right of access. Today we’ll explain how the electricity meter works.
For some time now, the traditional electricity meter has given way to the new digital electricity meter, also known as the smart electricity meter. We had already given a few hints about how these devices work, but today we want to review their main indicators. The key is knowing how to check the reading (electricity consumption, in kWh) on these digital electricity meters, a figure we should know in order to confirm that we are being billed correctly, as important as — or even more important than — knowing our electricity tariffs.
What does the red light on the digital electricity meter mean?
First of all, when connecting electricity for the first time or carrying out any other supply-related procedure, you should bear in mind that there are several models of electricity meter, also called electricity consumption meters, and that some of their functions and indicators differ. If you have ever wondered what the red light on the electricity meter means, you should know that this small red light on the digital electricity meter is what gives us the main information about the device. These are some of its possible states and what they indicate on most digital electricity meters for the 2.0TD Tariff (between 0 and 15 kW of contracted power, which covers the vast majority of household supplies), although ideally you should check with your electricity distributor what that indicator means in your specific case:
- On some models, if this light is off, there is no electricity consumption. The answer to how to turn off the red light on the electricity meter is simple: this blinking indicates consumption, so it will only disappear when no devices are consuming electricity.
- In most cases, if the red light is blinking continuously, electricity is being consumed. If the meter has a blinking red light, this indicates that the electricity meter is recording electricity use in real time.
- Very fast blinking means that electricity consumption has surged.
- If the red light is steady, on some digital meters it means that the electricity meter has locked because you have exceeded the contracted power and the electricity supply is interrupted. On other electricity meters, however, it simply means that there is no consumption.
Finally, the digital or electric meter detects that we have exceeded the contracted power thanks to an internal limiter that acts as an ICP. If you are wondering why your meter has a steady red light, it is because it indicates that you have exceeded the contracted power. In essence, it is the equivalent of the old "the fuses have blown".
How do I reset a digital electricity meter?
If you find yourself in the situation described above, you can restore the electricity supply in two ways:
- Lower the main cut-off switch or, failing that, the differential switch on the electrical panel, following the steps we detailed in this other post.
- Press the yellow button located at the top right of the digital or smart electricity meter.
How can I read my digital electricity meter?
The new smart electricity meter gives us the reading on its screen. In this article, you’ll learn how to read the electricity meter with the three time bands of the new 2.0TD electricity tariff.
In addition, if you want to keep even closer control of your consumption and manage energy efficiently, check out our catalogue of smart solutions, where you’ll find Smart Meters and smart plugs.
This tariff is characterised by having two power prices and three energy prices for three different time periods: off-peak (cheaper than the energy price without time-of-use discrimination), mid-peak (intermediate price) and peak (more expensive).
Do you know the keys to saving electricity?
- Have reasonable consumption habits, thinking about energy savings and the planet. Read our article on some tips to save electricity without having to change your habits.
- Find the electricity tariff that best suits you. At Holaluz, we offer the Fair Rate, the definitive fixed tariff that adapts to you and lets you always pay the same amount so you can stop worrying about your bill for good.
- Contract an optimal electrical power level.
And if you want to know how much you would save by switching to Holaluz, you can calculate it in just a couple of clicks,
Calculate your electricity tariff
To provide more information about the digital electricity meter, we have prepared a second part in which we explain how a digital meter works, the readings before and after the change, and how readings are managed in second homes and similar properties.
Finally, in this other article we explain how to read the meter under the 3.0TD Tariff (more than 15 kW of contracted power).
We hope these basics of the digital electricity meter are helpful.
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