Reading meters by telephony

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1986 · Pipeline Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7126072

Welch, J W

In mid-1984 as the price of microcomputers and networking software began to fall, it became apparent to Equitable Gas Co. that the age of efficient and effective remote meter reading was, indeed, an economic reality. The deregulation of the telephone industry had made it possible for Federal Communication Commission approved devices, developed and manufactured by non-telephone companies, to be connected to the local telephone network facilities. These regulatory changes helped to encourage the development of telephony-based, remote meter reading systems. In late 1984 an extensive study was made to evaluate the various automated meter reading systems then available. The systems considered and evaluated used three different technologies that included handheld, radio-frequency, and telephony-based systems. To select a remote meter reading system that was truly cost effective relative to the information provided, a set of evaluation objectives was established. The system selected for a pilot program included would provide: improved meter reading efficiency and effectiveness; improved bill processing; improved collection rate; immediate reporting of theft; operational data; cost effective installation and operation; and rate structure design.

• Research Organization: Equitable Gas Co., Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 7126072
• Journal Information: Pipeline Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Pipeline Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 213:11; ISSN PLGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
294003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Natural Gas
AUTOMATION
COMMUNICATIONS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
COMPUTERS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
COST
CRIME
CRIME DETECTION
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA PROCESSING
DATA TRANSMISSION
DEREGULATION
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS METERS
GAS UTILITIES
GASES
INSTALLATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
METERING
METERS
MICROELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
MICROPROCESSORS
NATURAL GAS
OPERATION
PROCESSING
PUBLIC UTILITIES
RF SYSTEMS
TELEMETRY
TELEPHONES
THEFT