News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Cookeville Gas Department will start testing automated gas meter readers for select communities in August.
Gas department Director Jeff Mills said around 50 households will receive the new meter readers. Several commercial and industrial locations will also be included in the project.
“This is going to be a pilot program,” Mills said. “We hope it does work out like we have researched it and talked to other communities using this particular system right now. Hopefully, it will be a permanent fix down the road.”
The city will install communication devices in the meter to send numbers straight to the gas department’s billing system. Mills said that same technology will allow customers to connect to the readers with a smart device to get live updates.
“They are supposed to be extremely accurate,” Mills said. “That will be something that we will continue to be reading those meters we are deploying during this process just to make sure we are getting accurate readings.”
Mills said the project could turn into a money and time saver allowing the city to deploy workers in other ways.
“It will save money,” Mills said. “I think the benefits will out weigh what the cost is going to be. This will be a huge benefit for customers and the city of Cookeville.”
The department is working to identify the areas for the test project.
