Kaukauna Utilities is in the process of automating our electric and water meter reading, and is currently changing-out electric meters and water meters throughout our system with new AMR (Automated Meter Reading) equipped units. This will allow KU personnel to read your electric meter and your water meter without having to walk right up to the meter. In many cases, the meter reader may not even need to walk onto your property to get the reading. The new meters, however, are only available for standard 100 or 200 amp services.
As you may know, most insurance companies are no longer insuring a premises if it is served by a 60 amp service. Those companies that do continue to insure such premises are usually grandfathering the house under its current owner only. They are not insuring new customers with 60 amp services, thus forcing home owners to upgrade their service before it can change hands.
The reason behind this is simple: SAFETY. Many existing 60 amp services are aging and undersized for the amount of power that the modern house uses. These two items together can amount to an electrical failure or, worse yet, an electrical fire as aging, overloaded conductors and connectors start to corrode and arc.
In an effort to help us with our AMR meter change out while at the same time assisting you with the aforementioned safety and insurance concerns, we are offering customers with 60 amp services the following: if you upgrade your electric service to either 100 or 200 amp service, Kaukauna Utilities will issue you a check in the amount of $100.
What you need to do:
- Contact a licensed electrician of your choice and let them know that you would like to upgrade your service (you may wish to get more than one quote). Note that if your electric meter is located inside your building, you will need to have it replaced on the outside of the building.
- Contact the utility at 462-0222 and let us know that you are looking to upgrade your service within the time frame mentioned above and that you would like the $100 reimbursement when the work is finished.
- Your electrician schedules the work with the utility during one of our service days (Tuesdays or Fridays), we issue a new AMR meter to your building, and send you a check for $100. Note that this is considered a new service and will need to be inspected by the local electrical inspector prior to energization, and may require a permit.
The utility is progressing quickly with our AMR meter conversion project, and will need to have all 60 amp services upgraded by the end of 2006. At that time, Kaukauna Utilities will install a meter socket adapter and will not reimburse you for any upgrades thereafter. Kaukauna Utilities assumes no liability for any electrical fault or fire caused by aging or overloaded wiring inside of a customer’s premises.
Please feel free to call us if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, and we look forward to continuing to serve you safely.
