Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register

Another reason to love your Model S: Not getting cheated by gas pumps

This site may earn commission on affiliate links.
Gas pump inspections

Arizona gas stations that shorted consumers
The Arizona Department of Weights and Measures released its annual gas pump audit and found hundreds of gas stations where the pumps don't work as advertised. The Arizona Republic mapped the gas stations that fell into four categories. Those that shorted customers on the amount of gas pumped, those who gave consumers more gas than they paid for, those that started gas pumps at a number above zero, and those that charged consumers before any gas was pumped.
 
do they always fail slow? never fast? if so hopefully my used power meter fails early :)

Older style electromechanical meters (the ones with a spinning disk and dials) are essentially finely calibrated electric motors. The more current, the faster the motor goes. The motor is connected via gears and wheels to the register dials. Over time, these gears can get gummed up and start to gradually slow down. Sometimes they'll even stop completely, although that's rare.

Utilities will periodically replace meters, or sample test a group of meters to ensure they are registering correctly.