The illustrations on this page show three sets of meter dials, along with their corresponding readings. Study the sketches carefully; be sure you understand how the readings were made.

READING = 13488

READING = 35721

READING = 66190
Your electric meter is much like the dometer in your family car. . . it gives a total — cumulative — reading of electrical energy consumption. To find out how much energy you used during a given period of time (say one day, or one week) you must compare readings made at the beginning and end of the period.