In the Netherlands, reading your gas, water, and electricity meters helps you keep track of your energy and water usage, which can be beneficial for managing household expenses. Here’s what you need to know about locating and recognizing each meter.
The water meter is commonly located under a trapdoor right inside the main entrance—sometimes beneath a carpet.
Gas and electricity meters are typically found in a utility closet, usually near the entrance of your home. Electricity meters measure in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
You can recognize each type of meter by its units: gas and water meters display usage in cubic meters (m³). Electricity meters may use either a single tariff or a dual tariff system. A single tariff charges a constant rate at all times, while a dual tariff separates peak and off-peak hours. Peak hours, typically during the day and early evening, have a higher rate, while off-peak hours, like nighttime and weekends, offer a lower rate. This dual system allows users to save by shifting their electricity usage to off-peak times whenever possible.
Older electricity meters show only one reading, regardless of the time of use, whereas modern meters often have separate registers for peak and off-peak usage. Smart meters, in particular, automatically send these readings to your provider, though you can still view real-time data on the display.
See hereunder examples of meters.
Gas Meter:
Water Meter
Electricity meter (digital)
Electricity meter (regular)
