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You may not realise the importance of regular electrical meter checks until you receive an eye-bulging electricity bill. That is likely when you will learn the role accurate readings play in getting matching accurate bills.
Indeed, it is helpful to know how energy companies calculate your energy usage and prepare your bill. This electrical inspection guide will begin by highlighting the components of regular household meter boxes and types of electrical meters.
You can read up on the recommended frequency of electrical inspections, why your property should have regular electrical meter checks, and steps to read your electricity meter. This blog post concludes by discussing when to perform test and tag procedures and services of electrical contractors.
Components of regular household meter boxes
Your household meter box usually contains the following electrical components:
- The meter
- Fuses
- Main switch
- Circuit breakers, including RCD protection
Types of electrical meters
The four types of meters include the following:
- Electronic digital meters
- Electro-mechanical dial meters
- Electro-mechanical digital meters
- Electronic smart meters
Why perform periodic inspections and tests?
The overall objective of performing periodic inspection and testing is to use detailed examination of electrical installations and appliances to gain insight into safety protocols, compliance, and condition of devices.
Who is responsible for electrical safety inspections and testing?
As a property owner or manager, you are solely responsible for ensuring the building security and safety of tenants or building residents. You have legal obligations to have regular electrical safety checks and inspections performed on the property.
These checks help to reduce the risk of electrical hazards and prevent fires. You will also be ensuring that your property complies with building codes. Inviting certified electricians to perform professional safety inspections and testing on your electricity system is the best way to fulfil this responsibility.
Recommended frequency of electrical inspections
You should consider factors such as usage, local regulations, and the age of your property when deciding the frequency of electrical safety checks. The general recommendation is to perform professional electrical inspections once each year. You can, however, inspect older properties or properties in high-risk environments more frequently.
Business and property owners are required by law to have electrical systems in commercial buildings inspected at least once every five years. A test and tag specialist should do this inspection.
However, you may want to consult licensed electricians to access your property and recommend a personalised inspection interval. Note that you may need to test electrical equipment like extension cords and power tools more frequently than other types of equipment.
Why have regular electrical meter checks?
Now, let us delve into the importance of performing regular electrical meter checks:
Regular meter readings help ensure accurate bills
Regular electrical meter checks mean that you get to perform regular meter readings. As a result, you can be more assured of accurate bills. You can provide these accurate readings to your energy company for more accurate bills.
How energy companies calculate electricity bills
On average, energy companies calculate a rough estimate of your electricity rate by factoring in your energy usage in kilowatt hours (kWh). Another factor is the energy price ($/kWh) based on a fixed delivery cost. In other words, your energy company calculates the energy provided for how many days against the daily delivery cost.
Nevertheless, you may be prompted to enquire why you have a higher than usual electricity bill, primarily if you have yet to use high-energy appliances like water heaters. Your energy company will likely ask you to check your electricity meter.
Steps to read your electricity meter
- Try to locate your meter. You can ask your neighbour or real estate agent for help finding it.
- Put safety first and confirm no water damage, exposed wires, or melted parts.
- You can uncover the energy meter if necessary.
- Record the five numbers displayed if you have electronic meters.
- Note down the numbers the little arrow of the five clocks is pointing to in a left-to-right order if you have a clock dial version.
- In cases where the arrow points between two numbers, note down the lower number
- Finally, you can submit the meter reading to your energy company when necessary.
Regular inspections help prevent electrical equipment breakdown
One of the benefits of regular inspections is that you can promptly spot electrical issues in equipment such as electrical meters. This, in turn, helps to reduce expensive breakdowns, and you do not need so many callouts for repairs. Inspecting and testing regularly also helps electrical metering equipment maintain its lifespan.
Metering inspections help identify potential electrical hazards
Electrical inspections of electrical metering help you spot signs such as malfunctioning circuit breakers or faulty switches. You can thus better avoid potential hazards such as electric shocks and tingles, sparking wires, and electrical fires.
Electrical safety checks aid electrical safety audits
Electrical safety audits systematically examine electrical systems and equipment to discover potential hazards and suggest corrective steps. You should record regular test and tag procedures for electrical equipment, indicating compliance with electrical safety regulations. At the same time, the record is a valuable document that can be referenced in electrical safety audits.
Electrical safety checks help prevent property damage and loss
Regular electrical meter checks can help prevent electrical fires and other hazards that lead to property damage and loss. You would not have to spend time, money, and effort to replace the electrical meter. Meanwhile, regularly inspecting and testing electrical equipment helps you avoid unnecessary repairs. This also allows you to save money.
Who should perform inspection and testing?
According to the electrical safety regulations, competent persons must inspect both residential and commercial buildings. By this definition, a competent person has the relevant training, qualifications, and experience to perform electrical inspection and testing.
In line with this, Australian Standards regulate electrical installations in construction and demolition sites and safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment. Similarly, it would help if you recognised that while each state shares similar details on electrical testing, there may sometimes be a rule change for a particular state.
When to perform test and tag procedures
You can get a test and tag specialist service to perform testing and tagging of electrical appliances for workplace safety. Recommended test and tag frequency for equipment in construction, demolition, and mining industries is once every three months.
Warehouses, factories, and production equipment can undergo test and tag inspection every six months. However, emergency electricians may be called to perform electrical inspections whenever needed.
Another time to conduct inspections is before buying a home. You may inspect areas like smoke alarms, main switchboards, and outlets here. This is especially applicable to older homes and buildings. You may also inspect light circuits and meter boxes and check for RCD tripping after emergencies such as severe storms.
Services of electrical contractors
Your electrical contractor can perform the following electrical services:
Electrical safety services
You may expect your electrical contractor to use thermal imaging cameras to perform electrical inspections. Some activities that may be performed here include equipment testing and tagging and safety switches testing; these activities are geared towards improving electrical safety.
Electrical installations and repairs
Regular electrical tests and tags can help reveal electrical equipment needing repair or replacement. Your electrical contractor can, after that, perform such maintenance. For example, they may perform plug and cord repairs. Your meter installer may also perform needed installations, such as installing safety switches and circuit breakers.
Meter maintenance
You may need the specialised services of electrical contractors to help you maintain the condition of your meter box. They will also check the condition of components such as circuit breakers and fuses. Ultimately, licensed electricians use electrical equipment maintenance services such as meter maintenance and smoke alarm maintenance services to keep electrical equipment safe.
Phase power upgrades
Regular electrical inspections may also reveal the need for phase power upgrades from single-phase to three-phase power. Your electrical contractor can help with electrical upgrades such as switchboard and consumer mains.
Get professional help for electrical meter checks
This guide on electrical meters taught you more about the importance of regular electrical meter checks. You also read up on responsibility for electrical safety inspections and testing, steps to read your electricity meter, and when to perform test and tag procedures.
You may still have questions about your meter readings or need emergency electrician services. Your local professional electrical contractor can give you tips on accessing your meter safely, schedule electrical meter checks, and provide other electrical services.
