It’s 2020 and Automated Meter Reading (AMR) has become an increasingly prevalent technology. It is used to capture monthly meter reading data, which is then passed to a utility to undergo billing and analysis. Gathering the data requires walking or driving with a handheld device. AMR provides numerous benefits including lowering the cost of reading meters, effectively eliminating errors with billing, increasing cash flow, and enhancing employee safety.

While for utilities and consumers, AMR has been a major step forward, Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is raising the bar. Using a wireless, fixed-base infrastructure network and smart meters can record consumption in brief intervals and send it back to the utility for billing and monitoring purposes on a daily basis. AMI facilitates timely data delivery, utilities can handle real-time outages, and operating costs remain low.

The timely delivery is the main reason for moving to AMI. With AMI, a utility can identify customers who, due to reasons such as leakage, may display uncommonly high usage and react in a short time, keeping costs down for all. The network stability and scalability are among the main factors to consider when evaluating an AMI solution.

The Avanti Company was founded in 1977 by Paul and Justine Devlin and is headquartered in Avon Park, FL. We provide water meters, metering systems, AMI support, on-site flow meter testing, sewer flow monitoring, inspection and assessment services for the water, wastewater, agricultural, petroleum and industrial marketplaces. Avanti represents products from McCrometer, Itron, Hach Flow, Honeywell/Elster, 64 seconds, Infosense, Nicor, Badger Meter, and others. Please visit our website at www.avanticompany.com, email us at info@avanticompany.com or call us at 863-453-5336 for assistance with all of your flow meter and metering system needs.