How to read your electricity meter
An electricity meter shows several screens in turn. Only one is the reading for your bill: cumulative kWh, in whole units. Pick your meter type to find it.
- 3 meter types
- From discom and CEA specifications
- Checked 16 October 2026
The one screen you need
The reading has the kWh label and no decimals. It is also the screen that the meter shows for the longest time on many specifications.
Screens that are not your reading
| Screen | What it is |
|---|---|
| kVAh | Apparent energy. It is usually a little larger than kWh. Homes are mostly billed on kWh. |
| MD or MD kW | Maximum demand: the highest load in the month, in kW. It has decimals and is small, for example 1.24. |
| kW (load) | The load at this moment. It changes while you watch. |
| V, A, PF | Voltage, current and power factor. These are live values, not readings. |
| kWh with decimals | The high-resolution kWh screen for testing. Use the whole-number kWh screen for your bill. |
| Last month kWh, or a history screen | The reading at an earlier billing date. Many meters keep 6 or 12 months. |
| kWh for a time zone (ToD) | Energy in one part of the day only. Some meters show several time zones. |
| Date, time, serial number | These screens have no units. The serial number can look like a reading. |
The lights on the meter
- Phase (green). The meter has supply. (source)
- CAL, or the imp/kWh LED. It blinks with your load. The number beside it, for example 3200 imp/kWh, gives the blinks for one unit. (source)
- EL or ELT. Earth leakage: unequal current in the phase and neutral wires. Do not ignore it. Ask an electrician to check the wiring. (source)
- REV. Reverse flow of energy, from the home to the grid. On a meter without solar, tell your discom. (source)
- N cut. On some meters: a loose wire at the meter end. (source)
Why meters differ
- The national meter regulations say a home meter must measure cumulative active energy, that is kWh. Other screens are optional. (CEA Regulations 2006)
- Each discom sets the screens in its tender specification. Makers build the meter to that specification.
- Every specification we read lets the discom change the order. So two meters of the same brand can differ.
- Makers do not publish screen-by-screen guides for Indian home meters, so we explain meters by type, not by brand.
Questions
Which reading do I use on my electricity meter?
The cumulative kWh screen, in whole units. Subtract the reading on your last bill to get your units.
What is the difference between kWh and kVAh?
kWh is the energy you use. kVAh also counts reactive power, so it is usually a little larger. Most home bills use kWh.
What do codes such as 1.8.0 on a meter mean?
Some meters show standard codes beside a screen. We found no public official document that lists them, so we do not explain them here. The kWh label is the safe guide.
Can I check if my meter is correct?
Watch the CAL or imp/kWh light. The number beside it gives the blinks for one unit. If you doubt the meter, ask your discom for a meter test.
Sources
- CEA (Installation and Operation of Meters) Regulations 2006, Schedule Part III
- CEA, Technical Specification of Smart Meters, 1-Ph and 3-Ph (Feb 2020), display parameters
- Tata Power-DDL, Customer Handbook FY26, pages 4-5
- BSES Yamuna, Info Guide (5th edition), Know Your Meter
- BSES Yamuna, FAQ (EL, REV and N cut LEDs)
The drawings are ours. They show the kind of screen, not a real meter. Your discom can change the order of the screens, so your meter can differ. Brand names only tell you which meter a fact applies to; ebbillcalc is not part of any maker or discom.