Columbia Gas of Ohio has announced a statewide upgrade of the company's residential and commercial natural gas meters that will include a program to install Automated Meter Reading (AMR) devices on most of its customers’ natural gas meters
 
The AMRs will enable the company to perform monthly meter readings. The project is expected to take five years, beginning in northwest Ohio and then moving into other areas of the state. The majority of the work will be performed by TruCheck, a Columbia Gas contractor, which will supplement its workforce by adding about 25 positions through local hiring.

Installation of the new technology was authorized by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio as part of Columbia Gas' recently approved base rate case. Several northwest Ohio communities will be the first to receive the AMR upgrade, including Toledo, Findlay and Bowling Green.
 
Work in Findlay and Bowling Green is expected to be complete by late 2009 and the Toledo area by mid 2011. “The statewide installation of AMRs will be a tremendous benefit to our customers,” said Columbia Gas President Jack Partridge. “This technology, enabling us to do monthly meter readings, will eliminate estimated bills and meter access issues, two of the concerns we hear most frequently from our customers.
 
“And it will create jobs in Northwest Ohio," he said.
 
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, which in turn transmits the meter reading data to a computer in the vehicle. The AMR is powered by its own long-life battery and does not draw from a home’s electrical system. Customers will be notified prior to work being performed in their area. Once a geographic area is complete, customers will receive notification when the monthly readings will begin.
 
For most customers the installation will not mean an interruption of service. For homes with indoor meters, arrangements for access will be coordinated with the homeowners.

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