How To Turn On Your Electric Meter

Your electric meter is the first place your home wiring connects to when it enters your property. It measures units of electricity, usually in kilowatt-hours, that your electrical appliances and lighting consume so you can accurately get charged for your usage. Your electric meter is set to operate automatically, once there is an electricity supply entering your home. If you've just moved into your home, it's possible the electricity supply is off and to get electricity to your meter and your home you need to turn on the power.

Step 1

Locate the electric meter. You find it in a boxed unit at the first place the electric wiring enters your home. In some homes it's located in an external box on the wall outside your property.

Step 2

Open the door of the unit or the external box. You can usually open the door by turning the handle, or just pulling the knob. Sometimes it has a cover that you just flip open using your fingers. You may need a key to open an external box. If you haven't got one, then you need to contact your electricity supplier to get one.

Step 3

Look at the electric meter. Follow the large cables towards where they enter the unit. Your see a large switch or handle between the entry point and the electric meter. The switch or handle is in the off position. Move the switch, or turn the handle, to the on position. This turns on the electrical supply and your meter registers electrical usage. Close the door on the box.