# Is there a clock in my Electric meter? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 30, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clock-in-my-electric-meter/191898 "2003-07-30T13:54:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![h](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f9ae1b/32.png) [@h](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clock-in-my-electric-meter/191898/1 "2003-07-30T13:54:35Z")
According to my electricity supplier, I’m supposed to use my heavy appliances (washer/dryer/dishwasher/a/c) mostly at night for several reasons. One, touting it is in my best interest, is that electric rates are much cheaper at night. I went out and looked at my standard elec meter. It basically has a wheel and a “odometer.” When the bill comes, it is just “last month minus this month,” separated by several rate tables times the rate and summed up. Looking at this, I can not figure out how the heck they can tell how much electricty I use during peak times vs. how much I use aduring the lower night-time rates. I considered a clock in the meter itself, somehow, which might “slow” down the wheel that clicks off the odometer, but that would be a “discount” taken at the meter itself vs. the power company actually having a night-time usage number to multiply by the lower rate. How does the meter-reading-man tell, when looking at my meter how much of the electricity used was at any specific time or usage rate period? …h ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clock-in-my-electric-meter/191898/2 "2003-07-30T14:02:32Z")
No clock, just the power company estimates you usage based on the actual amounts of power supplied to your area during peak/off peak times - for everybody. Some places you can pay to upgrade your meter to a digital model whihc would allow you to pay actuall peak/ off peak rates for your usage. Also aroung here the difference is about 3/4 of a cent between peak/ off peak. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clock-in-my-electric-meter/191898/3 "2003-07-30T14:04:55Z")
Most residential meters are just one reading to the next. However, a small number do take readings based on 15-minute intervals. That information is extracted into the hand-held computers with a special connector. It’s then used by various departments for load analysis and forecasting. Unless you have specifically asked for a special “time-of-use” rate, or they have installed a special “interval recording meter,” they don’t know about your specific use. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-clock-in-my-electric-meter/191898/4 "2003-07-30T15:11:03Z")
As an aside, I’d like to mention that in Florida where my parents live, there is a device connected to their electric water heater. Apparently FP&L can turn off the water heater in times of high demand to allow more power for air conditioners and such. They get a slightly reduced rate for allowing this.