Customers Now Benefiting from Monthly Meter Reading
March 2012
Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc. is excited to announce the next phase of its Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system, as monthly meter readings will commence on Thursday, March 1, across much of the company’s Western and Central Pennsylvania operating areas. This cutting edge technology is part of Columbia’s commitment to upgrade its natural gas distribution infrastructure and enhance customer service. Now fully deployed, the AMR devices virtually eliminate the practice of bimonthly meter readings and reduce the need for customers to make arrangements to allow meter readers inside their homes.
The Western and Central Pennsylvania Columbia Gas operating areas consist of many communities including: the Greater Pittsburgh area, New Castle, Washington, Uniontown, New Bethlehem, Warren, Bradford, State College and surrounding areas.
Approximately 302,000 natural gas meters across the Western and Central Pennsylvania operating area have been upgraded with new AMR devices. The installation took approximately 11 months to complete and reflects a $15 million investment in these communities.
The AMR system uses radio technology to automatically read the meter from a vehicle. As the specially equipped vehicle drives by, it sends a signal to the AMR device, which in turn transmits the meter reading data to a computer in the vehicle. The AMR device is powered by its own long-life battery and does not draw from a home’s electrical system.
Columbia Gas is implementing the AMR system, with monthly meter readings, across the company’s entire service territory. Currently the company is on pace to have all 414,000 meters in their service territory upgraded by the end of 2012.
Automated Meter Reading
January 2011
As part of our plan to improve and enhance customer service and convenience, Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania, Inc. is upgrading the way it reads natural gas meters by installing radio-based Automated Meter Reading devices (AMR).
The new AMR devices will be installed on most residential and commercial meters across Columbia’s service territory over approximately two years beginning in early 2011. It will allow the company to eventually eliminate every-other-month estimated meter readings and obtain an actual monthly meter reading.
Technicians from Columbia or our subcontractor, TruCheck, will install the electronic equipment necessary to read natural gas meters using radio technology from a vehicle. As the specially equipped vehicle drives by, it will send a signal to the AMR device on your meter, which then transmits the meter reading data to a computer in the vehicle. All technicians will have uniforms, photo identification and marked vehicles.
Customers will receive a postcard approximately 2-4 weeks prior to receiving an AMR device. There is no separate charge for the installation of the AMR device and the majority of customers will not have their service interrupted during the AMR installation. The installation takes about 20 minutes and, in most cases, does not require the technician to enter the home or business. In the rare cases where service interruption is necessary for AMR installation, Columbia will contact the customer in advance to make an appointment to minimize the disruption of natural gas service.
Frequently Asked Questions
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