Smart Meters
Customers with a smart meter can view energy usage online and participate in pricing options and programs to help control energy usage and costs.
What Are Smart Meters?
Smart meters use Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to automatically and securely send your energy use to Ameren through two-way communication. This improves reliability, speeds outage restoration, and allows you to view and manage usage online.
What Are Traditional Meters?
Traditional meters track your energy use, but do not have two-way communication and require manual meter readings.
What a Smart Meter Can Do for You
Convenience
Enjoy faster connection when you move or start service, and even more reliable energy thanks to smart technology that can detect an outage quickly.
Choice
Expanded rates can help you save when you shift your energy usage to off-peak times.
Control
More precise energy usage information provided by your smart meter makes it easier to manage your energy habits.
Understanding Your Meter Service
Download our PDF with details about meter types, traditional meter fees and self-reported meter readings.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you decide you do not want a smart meter, you can enroll in our Non-Standard Metering (NSM) service. Unlike our Standard Metering service, which uses the smart meter to transmit your energy usage wirelessly to Ameren, the NSM service will require a manual meter read. There are monthly fees to participate in the NSM program and no additional charge for the smart meter. The NSM fees help cover the cost of monthly manual meter reads. If you decide NSM is the right choice and want to enroll, please contact us to learn more about the fees.
If you decide you do not want a smart meter, you can enroll in our Non-Standard Metering (NSM) service. Unlike our Standard Metering service, which uses the smart meter to transmit your energy usage wirelessly to Ameren, the Non-Standard Metering service will require a manual meter read. There are monthly fees to participate in the Non-Standard Metering program and no additional charge for the smart meter. If you decide NSM is the right choice and want to enroll, please download the Understanding Your Meter Service (PDF) resource or call us at 1.800.552.7583, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
If you have questions related to scheduling an appointment or meter installation, please contact us with any questions.
If you have questions related to scheduling an appointment or meter installation, please call us at 1.800.552.7583, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Reading your non-standard meter helps ensure your bill is accurate. Most meters have four or five dials that show your energy use. Each dial represents a digit in your total kilowatt-hour (kWh) reading. Your usage is the difference between the current reading and the prior reading.
Tips Before You Get Started:
- Stand directly in front of the meter.
- Make sure you can clearly see each dial.
- Double-check your numbers before recording.
How To Read Each Dial:
- Start with the dial on the far right and record each number as you move across the meter.
- Each dial counts in a different direction than the one next to it:
- On the far-right dial, the numbers increase clockwise (0 → 1 → 2 → 3)
- On the next dial, the numbers increase counterclockwise (0 → 1 → 2 → 3)
- To find the correct reading, follow the order of the numbers (0 → 1 → 2) and when the hand is between two numbers, record the number the hand has already passed.
- If the hand is on a number, record that number.
- If the hand is between 9 and 0, record 9.
- Only use the higher number if the dial to the right has already passed 0.
Example:
In the pictured example, the dials are labeled A through E:
- Start with Dial E (far right).
- Dial E has not completed a full turn, so Dial D has not moved to the next number.
- Dial E reads 7, and Dial D reads 5.
- Continue this same process across all dials.
Once all dials are read, write the numbers in order from left to right.
Final reading: 44,957 kWh
Reading your non-standard meter helps ensure your bill is accurate. Most meters have four or five dials that show your energy use. Each dial represents a digit in your total kilowatt-hour (kWh) reading. Your usage is the difference between the current reading and the prior reading.
Tips Before You Get Started:
- Stand directly in front of the meter.
- Make sure you can clearly see each dial.
- Double-check your numbers before recording.
How To Read Each Dial:
- Start with the dial on the far right and record each number as you move across the meter.
- Each dial counts in a different direction than the one next to it:
- On the far-right dial, the numbers increase clockwise (0 → 1 → 2 → 3)
- On the next dial, the numbers increase counterclockwise (0 → 1 → 2 → 3)
- To find the correct reading, follow the order of the numbers (0 → 1 → 2) and when the hand is between two numbers, record the number the hand has already passed.
- If the hand is on a number, record that number.
- If the hand is between 9 and 0, record 9.
- Only use the higher number if the dial to the right has already passed 0.
Example:
In the pictured example, the dials are labeled A through E:
- Start with Dial E (far right).
- Dial E has not completed a full turn, so Dial D has not moved to the next number.
- Dial E reads 7, and Dial D reads 5.
- Continue this same process across all dials.
Once all dials are read, write the numbers in order from left to right.
Final reading: 44,957 kWh