"I can't believe the utility department reads everybody's meter every month."
We do. Every month, one of our full time meter readers will come to your home or business and record the readings on all of your meters. These readings are entered into an I-Tron™ Meter Recording Unit where it is stored until the data is downloaded onto our mainframe computer back at the utility department. When the meter reader enters the reading, the computer quickly calculates the amount of water, gas and electric used and compares it with usage for the previous month. If the current usage exceeds the previous usage by an unusual amount, the computer alerts the meter reader, who must then re-read the meter and re-enter the reading. This is the first audit of the meter reading. Later you are billed for the exact amount of electricity, natural gas and water that you used. The date that your meters are read is indicated on your utility bill under the "Date Read" heading.