1. Electricity in our Homes Energy Production in Canada
Objective:
To be able to explain how to read an Electricity Meter
To analyse electrical energy production in Canada and discuss the trend for electricity generation in Canada (price of generating electricity and green house emissions)

2. We use large amounts of electricity in our homes so measuring that energy use in joules in not very practical. Instead, we use the unit of kilowatt hours (kWh). Each house has a meter that records the kWh of electricity used. The cost of electricity is measured in ¢ per kWh.

3. Practice Reading an Electric Meter
Below are pictures of a meter on the first day of the month and the last day of the month. Read each meter and write the four digit number it shows in the space below it.

4. Some important points to keep in mind while reading the meter:
Some of the pointers rotate clockwise, others counter clockwise
When the dial pointer is between two numbers, read the smaller of the two.
Electricity meters usually have four or five main dials. If your meter has four main dials, you must multiply the reading by 10.

6. Meter on the first day of the month:
What is the reading on this meter?
Meter on the last day of the month:
What is the reading on this meter?

7. Now we need to figure out how much electricity was used during the month. You do this by subtracting the reading on the first day of the month from the reading on the last day of the month.
Last day of the month- First day of the month= Electricity used during the month
- = kWh
x 10

8. Now let’s see how much this will cost
Now let’s see how much this will cost. The electric company charges seven cents per kilowatt hour. To figure out how much you will pay this month, we just multiply the number of kilowatt hours used by the cost ($0.07).
Kilowatt hours used during the month* Cost = Total cost for the month
* = $

9. Practice Efficiency and EnerGuide Worksheet
Electricity Problems Worksheet