Automated Meter Reading FAQs

Just as we provide residents of Ocala with resources on how to make their homes and businesses more energy efficient to combat rising costs, the City of Ocala is looking at our own facilities and systems to find better, more efficient ways to do business and provide services to our customers. One of those ways is through a utility metering initiative that will upgrade the City’s over 75,000 residential and business electric and water meters.

Over the next 14 months the City will be working with Johnson Controls, Inc. and U S Bronco Services installing Automated Meter Reading (AMR) equipment. To better inform and answer questions regarding this new initiative, we have listed frequently asked questions regarding AMR.  If your particular inquiry is not addressed or you need additional information, please call our Customer Business Office at 629-8411.

Q.   What is AMR?

A.   AMR stands for Automated Meter Reading, a state-of-the-art technology that will enable the City to read electric and water meters without a physical visit to manually read a customer’s  meter.  This technology also allows data to be transferred back and forth between the customers and City of Ocala Electric Utility using fiber optic and radio frequency communications.

Q.  Why is the City changing to AMR technology?

A.  The City is embarking on an AMR system-wide program that will incorporate automatic meter reading capabilities on all existing residential and commercial meters.  The purpose is to acquire more accurate information without the need to enter a customer’s property.  Along with obtaining monthly readings, OEU also sends personnel out to a customer’s location to verify meter data, when the customer has questions regarding their meter or meter readings.  With AMR, the customer service representatives can query the meter through the system and obtain the reading without having to go out to the customer’s location. AMR technology will allow us to provide enhanced and timely customer service.

Q.  How will the AMR project be paid for?

A.  Through a financing vehicle called a performance contract the city is able to make these system improvements that are self-funding via the cost savings in energy, water and operational costs that the project generates. 

Q.   How will customers be notified their electric and/or water meter is to be changed out?

A.  Residential customers will be notified with a door hanger placed on their front door giving a 24-48 hour notice.  Meter exchanges will take place between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Commercial businesses will be notified and scheduled by phone.

Q.  How will I know an authorized person in on my property changing my meter?

A.  U.S. Bronco Services personnel will be exchanging the meters.  All vehicles will be clearly marked with City of Ocala identification. 

Q.  Will there be a charge to have my existing meter changed to an AMR meter?

A.   There will be no charge to the customer for the installation of the AMR meter.  If the equipment at the point of the meter change-out is faulty, the Utility will inform the customer so the customer can make arrangements to have the equipment repaired.  In accordance with the City of Ocala Electric Utility ordinance, customers must keep their equipment in a safe, working order.

Q.  Will there be an interruption of service during the exchange of meters?

A.  Yes, customers will experience a short interruption in electrical service and an approximate 30 minute interruption in water service during the conversion. OEU’s contractor will try to provide advance warning to customers by knocking on the door before conducting the change out.  In extreme situations problems with equipment owned by the customer may result in a longer disruption of service for minor repairs.

Q.  What is the difference between my existing meter and the new meter?

A.   The new meters are digital electronic devices with radio frequency technology.  The new AMR meters will have an electronic circuit board module installed that receives and stores the kilowatt-hour and water daily usage. 

Q.  How will OEU read the meters?

A.  OEU computer system will communicate with the installed equipment to request one or more meter readings.  A reading request signal is sent and the AMR meter responds back with the meter reading(s).  The entire process takes just seconds for a single meter reading.

Q.Will my meter reading date change?

A.  No.  For billing purposes, the current read and billing schedule will not change.

Q.  Will someone other than OEU be able to read my meter?

A.  No.  The new AMR meters will have a digital display so customers can still read their own meter if they so desire.  However, all of the information and data stored within the meter requires special software and proprietary LAN ids for OEU to access the information. This security feature is in place to help insure that no one except for OEU will be able to read a customer’s meter.

Q.  Will the AMR technology notify OEU when the power goes out?

A.  OEU will be notified by the meter that it has lost power, resulting in a quicker restoration time.

Q.  Do I have to be home when my meter is changed-out?

A.  No, in most cases you do not need to be home as long as the installer has access to your electric and/or water meter.  In cases where the meter is located inside a porch or utility room or behind a locked gate, the customer will need to be present.

Q.  What are the benefits of AMR?

A.   The primary benefit of this technology is more timely and accurate measurements of water and electric consumption.  The electric and water meters will be read automatically by way of radio signals and fiber optics.  Then the information gathered will be transmitted directly into our billing system.  No longer will there be a need to send personnel out into the field to read electric and water meters AMR will be extremely valuable during power outages. By automatically checking meters, we will quickly be able to pinpoint the area where there is a problem. 

The system also has water leak detection capability that will detect leaks and alert the Water and Sewer Department when there is a problem.

The City of Ocala looks forward to providing our customers with enhanced service and increased operational efficiencies that Automated Meter Reading will bring.