Your electric meter (sometimes called the “utility meter”) is the device your utility company uses to measure your electricity consumption. It’s how they know what to bill you each month or bi-monthly.

A traditional electric meter has analogue dials that spin as current flows through it, which is why the utility company has someone check your meter in person or offer an estimated bill.

Even then, that meter reading is just a summary of your electricity consumption for the month or period.

When you go solar, you consume electricity from your solar panels, which lowers the amount of electricity you consume from the grid. 

As a result, your electric meter records a lot less consumption, and you save money by not paying for that electricity from the utility company.

Smart meters are more modern meters which allow more real-time information be captured and communicated to your electricity provider.

If your solar panel system is connected to the electricity grid (most are) then you can benefit from FIT (feed in tariff) credits from your local utility company for any surplus electricity generated. This is excess electricity generated that is fed back to the grid.