AUTOMATED METER READING

United REMC is currently involved in a project to bring Automated Meter Readings (AMRs)
to our system.

Specially equipped electric meters are now being installed at the homes of our members.
The units will be able to transmit the meter reading back over the power lines to our substations, and then back to our office via radio transmission to computers at our office. Right now there are about 2,000 of these meters in place, primarily on homes served by the Kinnerk and Lafayette substations. The project is estimated to take another 2-3 years to complete our entire
service territory.

Along with recording electric usage, the meters will be able to provide us with valuable information. Once in place and active, the meters will be able to record usage at any given time, and we will be able to determine outages and duration as well. And we can retrieve that information directly off computers at the utility’s office. The meters can provide us with a detailed account of your usage over a period of time. That will allow us to detect problems in your service.
The AMRs use the latest in technology. Along with recording monthly usage, we will be able to disconnect service remotely from our office in the case of non-payment, as well as reconnect customers without having to dispatch a lineman to the home. They also will help detect problems with voltage if they occur.

Currently the bulk of our meters are read by contract meter readers. Those readers use handheld devices to record your monthly usage, and that information is downloaded to our computers to determine your bill.

In time, as the technology is installed, we will continue to switch more and more of that work over to the AMRs. The devices will not only read your meter, but provide real time information if you experience problems with service.

Tom Rudig, who retired from United REMC several years ago but came back just for this project, is installing the AMR meters. There is a brief interruption in service when he replaces the existing meter, and United tries to notify our consumers when Tom is installing the new meters in their area.

REVISED METER READING SCHEDULE

With the implementation of cycle billing some time back, you may notice our meter readers at your home at a different time of the month. Please note when your meter is being read -- from now on, it will be approximately the same time each month.

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

United REMC' offices will be closed for several regular holidays throughout the year. Those include Good Friday, Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Veterans' Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

ANNUAL MEETING

United REMC each spring hosts its Customer Appreciation Breakfast/Annual Meeting for all its members and immediate families. It is scheduled for March 1, 2008 at Huntington North High School.

As in the past, there will be a free breakfast buffet for our consumers, followed by the business meeting in the school auditorium.

The meeting will include the election of offices, a report from the CEO, entertainment and announcements of the winners of the Youth Scholarship Contest.

Cash prizes will also be given away to those in attendance. Golf carts are used to shuttle
meeting-goers to and from the parking lot, as well as to and from the auditorium.

For more information, watch for the upcoming issues of the Electric Consumer.