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My Meter Is Approved by Measurement Canada

To access any of the PDF documents included in this page, please use this free Adobe Acrobat Reader as needed

Can I Count on My Meter? in PDF format, 249 KB

My Meter Is Approved by Measurement Canada
My Meter Is Verified Regularly
What Do I Do if I'm in Doubt?
What Should I Do When I Move?
For More Information

My Meter Is Approved by Measurement Canada

Most of us take the reliability of our electricity or gas meter for granted. It's understandable. After all, it's a pretty complicated mechanism. And, besides, it always seems to be working properly anyway.

The reason it does work accurately is not only because it's well made, but also because of a law called the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act. This Act states that any equipment used for measuring electricity or gas consumption must meet stringent accuracy requirements.

Who enforces these standards?

Measurement Canada.

Who verifies the accuracy of instruments?

Measurement Canada or accredited organizations verify the accuracy of electricity and gas meters.

For example, before a utility can use a new type of meter for billing you, the manufacturer must provide the department with a prototype. Measurement Canada then tests it for performance, reliability and accuracy. If the meter passes these tests, it's approved.

My Meter Is Verified Regularly

In addition to a prototype meter being approved, each meter used for billing purposes has to be verified and sealed. And while they are in service, the meters are periodically checked by Measurement Canada or by accredited organizations to make sure their accuracy is maintained.

What Do I Do if I'm in Doubt?

Of course, errors can happen. You might feel, for example, that your energy bill isn't an accurate reflection of the amount of electricity or gas you've consumed. If this is the case, here's what to do:

Stop and think about it. Maybe you actually used more energy than you realize. A heat wave or cold snap can really eat up a lot of energy. Or perhaps you have added an appliance or had an appliance that was working overtime — such as a refrigerator, freezer, hot water heater or air conditioner.

Your utility may have overestimated the amount of electricity or gas you used. This happens when the utility hasn't been able to take a reading from your meter and must estimate the amount consumed.

Or, it could be something as simple as a rate increase which you may have forgotten about or overlooked.

Rarely, in fact, will it be the result of an inaccurate meter. Still, if you have your doubts, step 2 is in order.
Contact your utility's customer service department and ask them to investigate. If you're dissatisfied with their answer and still think the meter's defective, take step 3.
Contact your nearest Measurement Canada office and ask them to test your meter. At the same time, to avoid surprises, check with your utility to see if they will be levying a service charge for removing the meter to be tested.

What Should I Do When I Move?

Contact your electricity or gas supplier and give them the current reading of your energy meter. This way, you will receive a bill based on actual and not estimated consumption.

Here's how to read your meter:

Analog Meters

Reading the meter from left to right, record the lowest digit pointed to by the needle on each dial. The reading on the meter shown is 62618.

Digital Meters

Simply read the number displayed on the meter.

For More Information

For more information, contact the Measurement Canada office nearest you. We are listed in the blue pages of your telephone directory, under "Industry Canada" in the Government of Canada section.

The photographs used in this brochure are for purposes of illustration only and should not be considered as product endorsements by Measurement Canada.

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		Created: 2005-08-04 Updated: 2005-12-02	Top of Page	Important Notices