Electrical energy meter having a cover-mounted time-of-day multifunction register

An electrical energy meter having a cover-mounted time-based multifunction register for measuring parameters of electrical energy usage, wherein said multifunction register includes an optical data link tube for interactively communicating by way of light radiations with a prgrammer/reader unit having a plurality of fingers at the front thereof, said electrical energy meter comprising:

• a meter base;
• means for providing signals representative of electrical energy usage, said means carried by said meter base;
• a cable, said cable connecting said multifunction register with said providing means;
• a cup-shaped cover engaging said meter base at an open end of said cover, said cover having a front face at the closed end thereof, said front face including an optically transparent portion for allowing transmission of said light radiations therethrough, said cover carrying said multifunction register for measuring parameters of electrical energy usage in response to said signals, said front face further including a plurality of integral index means aligned with said optical data link tube, said plurality of integral index means for engaging said plurality of fingers to orient said programmer/reader unit with said optical data link tube;
• whereby accurate data transfer between said optical data link tube and said programmer/reader unit via said optically transparent portion of said front fact is facilitated.