UPPCO announces request to extend current meter reading practices
MARQUETTE — Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO) filed a request with the Michigan Public Service Commission to extend its current meter reading practices, as reported in a statement released by the company Thursday afternoon.
Currently, UPPCO reads the meters of its customers every other month. During the off months, the company uses an estimate of the energy that is consumed by the customer.
In the statement, UPPCO Vice President of Business Development and Communications Brett French said:
“We do not have an automated meter reading system in place today. Given our current system and considering the size of our service territory, we believe it would add approximately $914,000 to the amount we must bill our customers annually if our meter technicians read all meters every month…
The waiver request is a routine filing we’re required to make each year. Our method for reading meters has not changed and our customers only pay for the energy they actually use since the bills are ‘trued-up’ every other month using actual readings. We are committed to reducing costs to our customers wherever possible. Obtaining an extension to the existing waivers will help us meet that commitment…