What does a watt-hour meter measure?

A watt-hour meter measures the total electrical energy consumption over time, which is expressed in watt-hours. This device records the amount of energy used by electrical appliances or systems, providing a clear picture of energy consumption over a specified period. It counts the total watts (power) consumed and multiplies it by the time (in hours) that the power is used, effectively giving homeowners and utility companies a way to measure efficiency and track usage patterns.

In residential or commercial settings, this information is crucial for billing purposes and understanding energy habits, enabling consumers to make informed decisions about usage reductions or changes in energy providers. The other options refer to different measurements: maximum power pertains to kilowatts, voltage drop deals with the difference in electrical potential, and amperage is related to the flow of electric current, none of which directly corresponds to the comprehensive measurement of energy over time encapsulated by the watt-hour meter.