Indianapolis, Ind. – Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana – North (Vectren) announced today it has completed the installation of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) devices throughout its 48-county service territory in southeast and central Indiana. The AMR technology enables Vectren to efficiently obtain actual reads from natural gas meters by driving routes, rather than walking the routes, which increases actual reads per day and virtually eliminates issues such as weather, animals and locked gates from preventing actual reads. The project, which began in August 2015 and was originally scheduled to be completed in March of this year, finished ahead of schedule.
AMR uses special equipment known as Encoder Receiver Transmitter (ERT) devices, which now comes pre-installed on all Vectren natural gas meters, in order to transmit encrypted meter information via radio signals to data collection devices located within specially-equipped vehicles. As a result of the implementation, fourteen new positions have been hired to conduct the reads and perform related meter orders to improve customer service.
“We’ve already seen the benefits of AMR technology to Vectren North’s 580,000 customers,” said Mike Roeder, Vectren Energy Delivery of Indiana-North president. “When comparing December 2015 to December 2016, there was a 95% reduction in consecutive estimated meter reads, which means our customers are getting more accurate, reliable meter reads that are so critical during the coldest months of the year.”
The implementation of AMR is included within Vectren’s 7-year natural gas infrastructure modernization plan, which runs through 2020, and is intended to maintain the safety and reliability of the utility’s natural gas system and enhance its customers’ experience in the communities throughout its service territory. For more information on Vectren’s implementation of AMR, visitvectren.com/AMR.
Vectren North serves nearly 580,000 gas customers in all or a portion of Adams, Allen, Bartholomew, Blackford, Boone, Clark, Clay, Clinton, , Decatur, Delaware, Fayette, Floyd, Fountain, Grant, Greene, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Henry, Huntington, Jackson, Jay, Jefferson, Johnson, , Lawrence, Madison, Marion, Martin, Miami, Monroe, Montgomery, Morgan, Orange, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren, Wayne, Wells and White counties.