Summary
A basic meter records your energy usage as you go, on a dial or display on the meter.
It requires regular reading to understand your usage amounts between given periods of time. It’s calculated by adding up the kWhs (electricity) or megajoules (natural gas) between two meter read dates.
Important to note
All natural gas meters are basic meters
Some electricity meters are basic, and some are smart (or digital)
There are some basic electricity meters with a digital display. This does not make them smart meters.
The type of meter you have depends on where and when your house was built. If you’re not sure which one you’ve got, take a look at the meter-identifying section on the Read your own meter page.