Automated Meter Reading		May 31, 2006
Over the next four years, Ameren will be converting 1.1 million electric and natural gas meters―approximately half of our meters―in Ameren’s Illinois service territory to an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system.    Once installed, AMR will bring significant benefits for customers who have the new system in place. The system:
	Virtually eliminates estimated bills.
	Significantly reduces Ameren’s need to access customer’s property—Ameren will no longer need access to your property to read your meter, but may need access occasionally for maintenance.
	Allows for meter readings on the day a customer is moving in to, or out of, a residence.
	Reports when power is out at a meter, which helps Ameren identify a trouble area for better outage response.
Here’s How AMR Works
Once the AMR-enhanced meter has been installed, a module inside that meter records your electric or natural gas usage. The meter data is sent from that module to a receiver using a very low power radio signal. This information is sent to the Ameren billing systems to produce timely, accurate bills.
Illinois Expansion Details
The planned AMR expansion, slated for deployment over four years, began in April 2006 and is expected to wrap in 2009. AMR-enhanced meters will be installed in Champaign, Urbana, Danville, Bloomington, Decatur, Peoria, East Peoria, Pekin, Illinois Metropolitan East area of St. Louis, Mattoon, Charleston and Carbondale during that time.
FAQs
See list of frequently asked questions and answers about the AMR project.