Black Hills Energy Kansas
Black Hills Energy is bringing automated meter reading (AMR) to its natural gas customers in Kansas. AMR increases efficiency by using wireless technology to securely send each customer's natural gas usage information directly from the meter to a passing company vehicle.
The company will complete installation of the technology in Lawrence in March. Potential expansion of the technology to other locations will be reviewed annually.
Benefits of AMR include:
- Greater Efficiency: Wireless technology allows the company to read meters more rapidly, with a transmitter on the meter and a receiver in a passing company vehicle.
- Customer Convenience: AMR eliminates the need for service personnel to access customers’ property monthly to read meters; indoor meters can also be read remotely.
- Accuracy: AMR eliminates the need to estimate meter reads. If a customer’s meter is inaccessible due to location, a locked gate or a pet, the meter read can still be obtained through AMR to help ensure an accurate bill.
For AMR to work, a small transmitter is added to all meters. The company and a third party contractor carrying Black Hills Energy identification are doing this work. Customers will receive a mailed notification informing them of the work before crews enter their neighborhood.
Service typically is not interrupted during installation. In some instances the meter is exchanged, requiring a brief service interruption. Customers requiring an exchange will be pre-notified to schedule an appointment, as the technician will need access to the residence in order to relight pilots on gas appliances, furnaces and water heaters.
Click on Automated Meter Reading to return to the main AMR page.