Customers often ask us if their higher than average electric bill could be due to a meter that is malfunctioning? Because of the mechanics of your electric meter, a malfunctioning meter can actually be to your benefit. Meters operate using a series of disks and moving parts. Like any other mechanical device, a mechanical electric meter tends to slow down with age, not speed up. That's due to wear on the gears and other mechanical parts. If your meter goes bad, you'll likely benefit from it. Meter malfunction is rarely the reason your electric bill rises. In fact, your meter is actually your greatest tool in helping track down inefficient or malfunctioning appliances