High-Tech Meters Approved For Cleco Customers

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana utility regulators are allowing the first privately owned power company in the state to use high-tech meters for all customers.Cleco Corp. will use the meters for its 277,000 customers in 23 parishes. The conversion cost will be $73.5 million, but customers will not pay the cost.

The meters record how much power customers use and sends a billing report to the utility company without meter readers having to physically visit each location. According to The Advocate, Cleco says the technology is expected to save the company over $53 million over the next 15 years.

Complete installation should be finished in 2013. Cleco says about 60 meter readers will be affected by the change.