What is a "master meter" in electricity distribution?

A "master meter" refers to an electric watthour meter that is owned and maintained by the utility company, specifically designed to measure the total electricity consumption for billing purposes. This type of meter is typically used in cases where multiple consumers are served through a single service connection, such as apartment buildings or commercial complexes.

The usage of a master meter allows the utility to calculate the total usage accurately for billing the property owner or management, who then may distribute the cost among individual tenants or users. This is crucial in ensuring that the utility company has a clear understanding of electricity consumption within that service area, facilitating accurate billing and energy management.

While other meters, like auxiliary meters or residential meters, serve specific functions like load management or individual household tracking, they do not fulfill the same role as a master meter in the context of utility billing for collective consumption.