NIPSCO has announced its new Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system and plans to install new meters beginning in late February.

Monthly readers from the new AMR meters will be gathered through a receiver in a NIPSCO vehicle. With plans to have the new meters installed for all NIPSCO customers by 2016, NIPSCO employees will not need to travel door-to-door to read the meters.

Right now, NIPSCO collects about 300 meter readings every four hours. AMR receivers can collect 6,300 readings in the same time frame. Personal account information will not be collected.

Meters will begin to be replaced in South Haven in late February, but an extended schedule has not yet been announced. Customers will receive a letter notifying them when their meter will be changed. The installation is free and takes about 20 minutes, which may include a short service interruption.

Service technicians will wear uniforms, drive marked vehicles and have photo ID on them. NIPSCO has partnered with Metadigm and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 697 to complete the installations.

NIPSCO does not expect job losses as part of the upgrade.