Abstract: A sensor (1) for consumption measurements in a household consumption measuring system, in which the household consumption measuring system exhibits, as consumption measuring devices, in particular, a standard electricity meter, a standard gas meter and/or a standard water meter having a display element (2) of the consumption measuring device placed behind a transparent cover plate (4). The sensor (1) has a housing (6) with an outlet side (7) and, in the housing (6), a reflex photoelectric barrier emitter (8) and a reflex photoelectric barrier receiver (9) are placed next to each other at the outlet side (7). The sensor (1) is connected to an evaluation unit, can be produced especially economically and, in particular, can be installed on a consumption measuring device also simply and economically by setting housing (6) of the sensor with its outlet side (7) on cover plate (4) of the consumption measuring device and fastening it thereto.