About Reading Your Meter
Meter Readings
We schedule a reading of your meter at approximately the same time each month. However, if our meter reader cannot obtain access to the meter, a meter reading postcard may be left for you to complete, or we may estimate your bill. We also may estimate a bill if the meter reading is either significantly higher or lower than a customer's usual usage (indicating the possibility of an error in the reading).
If a postcard is left at your home, please record the meter reading promptly and mail it, or call in the reading to Pepco at (202) 872-3377. You may request a supply of postcards by calling us at (202) 833-7500.
If you read your meter, the resulting bill will have "Customer Reading" printed at the top. You may also read your meter when you are opening or closing your account.
Meter Access
Pepco must have access to your meter in order to read it, and to test, remove and replace it periodically. We ask that you make certain that we have a minimum of 48 inches clearance around the meter box. No permanent obstructions - such as trees, bushes, or walls - may be placed in front of the meter.
How to Read Your Meter
To read your electric meter, look at each dial from right to left as you face the meter. Note that alternate dials move in opposite directions. This is important in taking an accurate reading. Looking at the example below.
Start with Dial A on the right and read to Dial D on the left. If a pointer is clearly between numbers, the smaller number (as in Dial A) is recorded, unless the dial is between 9 and 0; in this case( as in Dial B and Dial C), 9 was recorded. If a pointer is close to or exactly on a number (as in Dial D), look at the dial to the right (dial C). If that pointer has not yet reached zero, the smaller number is recorded (see the reading on Dial D). Notice that the pointer on Dial C has not reached zero. So the reading for Dial D is recorded as 4, not 5.
Time-of-Use Meters
Some customers have time-of-use meters with dials and flashing digital displays. These meters are used for time-metered service. For more information about these meters, call (202) 331-6248.
