Gas and Electric Meters

Accurate Devices
Meters are rugged, highly accurate devices which record the consumption of gas and electricity. Because your bill is based on meter readings, our meters are monitored regularly by the Maryland Public Service Commission to assure that they are operating accurately.

Requests for Meter Test
Upon requests by a customer, Easton Utilities will test your meter once in an eighteen (18) month period. If meter testing is requested more frequently than once in eighteen (18) months the customer shall be charged $25 for testing a non-interval meter. For testing a demand meter the charge shall be rendered on a time and material basis per interval meter tested, not to exceed $500.

Meter Readers
Meters are read on or around the same date each month by Easton Utilities meter readers using hand-held computers. Our meter readers wear Easton Utilities uniforms and carry identification cards which they will show you upon request.

Unscheduled Meter Readings
When a customer requests for a meter reading of a non-demand meter on an unscheduled meter reading date, the Customer shall be charged $25 per meter, per occurrence. For a non-scheduled meter reading of a demand meter the customer shall be charged on a time and material basis per meter not to exceed $100 per meter, per occurrence.

Keep Your Meter Clear
Shrubs and vegetation hamper our meter readers from getting accurate readings. Planting such items near or around the meter poses a safety hazard. Please keep a 3-foot clearance zone around your utility meters.

If Your Meter Stops
Easton Utilities does not estimate bills unless a meter is stopped. If your meter is stopped, your bill will show an average consumption based on your prior use. In such case, 'Meter Stopped Average Usage' will appear on your bill.

How to Read Your Meter
We encourage you to read your meters so you may verify the accuracy of your bills and monitor your conservation efforts in saving electricity and natural gas. All gas and electric meters are read the same way, very much like a clock. Most meters have four or five dials. The pointers rotate clockwise or counterclockwise as indicated below.

meter
  1. Start with the dial on the far left.
  2. Record the last number the pointer has passed. If the pointer is between numbers,
    the lower number is taken.
  3. Use this procedure for each dial and then record the number in order.

In the example above, the correct meter reading is 64720. If the meter reading last month was 62710, then total units used this month is 2010. Each unit of gas is 100 cubic feet and each unit of electric service is 1 kilowatt hour. To make an accurate comparison with the readings on your bill, be sure to take your own readings at about the same time the meter reader does.

*If your meter is digital, simply record the number.