How an electric meter reads electricity?

To record how much electricity passes through from the utility lines to your home's electrical system, an electric energy meter must measure both the voltage and the amperage of the circuit wiring at all times. Mechanical meters use two conductor coils that create magnetic fields. One coil is affected by current going across the conductor; the other coil is affected by the voltage going across the conductor. Together, the magnetic fields created by the coils turn a thin aluminum disc at a controlled rate. The disc turns a series of gears that move the five dials that record the electricity in kilowatt-hours. This mechanism is called an indicator.

A digital electric energy meter has AC sensors that detect voltage and amperage in the incoming electrical circuit. AC is short for alternating current, the type of electricity used by most household electrical systems and appliances and other electrical devices.

While mechanical meters are highly reliable, digital meters are better at picking up all of the power in a circuit, making them slightly more accurate.