Every time you flip a switch, use an electrical appliance or start an electric motor... the meter measures how much electricity is used.
The meter is like the odometer on your car. By reading the odometer at regular intervals and subtracting the beginning reading from the ending reading you can determine the distance traveled over a certain period. The meter operates in the same manner. To calculate how much electricity you have used, subtract the earlier reading from the current reading.
It you look at the meter you can see a revolving disk and a series of dials and pointers. The more electricity used the faster the revolving disk moves. Each complete revolution of the disk measures a precise amount of electricity. This measurement is indicated by the position of the pointers on the dials.
You can keep track of your electricity consumption by reading the meter. The dials on the meter are read from right to left and the numbers are recorded in the same order. If the pointer on the dial is between two numbers, record the smaller number, except when it's between 9 and 0, record the 9. If the pointer on the dial is actually on a number, check the dial to its immediate right. Unless the pointer has completed one full turn back to 0, record the lower number.
Example:
