Home > Residential > Customer Service > About Meters > AMR (Automated Meter Reading)

The days of Meter Readers walking their routes from house to house will soon be over. By 2011, all GUC meters will be equipped with Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology. Since 2004, we have been phasing in AMR, starting first with electric meters, followed by gas meters. In April 2008 GUC began the last phase of the project which involves replacing all 30,000+ water meters with AMR devices. Replacing all 30,000 water meters is expected to take approximately three years.

AMR is a proven technology that allows for consistent and accurate collection of meter readings using wireless communication With AMR, meter data is transmitted through a radio transmitter. GUC vehicles equipped with on-board computers will automatically collect accurate meter readings simply by driving past the metered property. Meter Readers will no longer need physical access to the customer’s home or business. 

The focus of AMR is customer service and the full implementation of the technology offers many benefits. Customers with hard-to-read meters will no longer have to make special arrangements to have their meters read.  AMR also allows GUC to meet the needs of our growing customer base, currently increasing at a rate of 4% a year, without having to bring on additional Meter Technicians and vehicles. In addition, AMR decreases meter tampering and utility theft, as well as personal injuries.”

AMR will build on GUC’s impressive record of accuracy. Our Meter Technicians have always done a fantastic job. So far, this fiscal year, their accuracy rate is 99.9976%. Last year, they collected 1,401,235 readings with an accuracy rate of 99.9984%. AMR technology will allow us to continue our history of remarkably accurate meter readings more efficiently and eliminate the risk, however small, of human error.

GUC has contracted with a private company to perform the water meter change outs. The contractors, who will have GUC photo identification, will inform customers when their water meter is being replaced. The photograph above is one of the installers. Customers are not required to be home during the change out. They can anticipate that their water service will be disconnected for approximately 30 minutes while the work is completed.

Contact GUC at 752-7166 with any questions.