ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

In its simplest form, an AMR system allows a utility to bill customers for their monthly gas consumption without sending an employee to check every meter on the system. The Metscan system uses the public telephone network to collect gas meter consumption data. A lithium battery-powered automatic meter reading device that attaches to the gas meter is coupled with the meter's test hand, converting the meter's mechanical rotation into electronic pulses. The device stores the information until, at a pre-determined time, it calls the utility to transfer the data into a computer.