Nebraska Natural Gas Customer Handbook - Black Hills Energy

Natural Gas Meter
Automated Meter Reading
We have automated the meter reading process in 54 communities where approximately 127,000 of our 196,000
Nebraska customers live through the use of special gas meter equipment and mobile, drive-by automated meter
reading technology. Besides being more efficient, the benefits of automated meter reading include increased
meter reading and billing accuracy through the elimination of estimated meter readings, and company meter
readers no longer need access to your property each month to manually record natural gas usage.
Communities served by Black Hills Energy that have automated meter reading are Adams, Arlington, Aurora,
Beatrice, Bee, Bennet, Blair, Bradshaw, Cheney, Clatonia, Cortland, Craig, Crete, David City, DeWitt, Dorchester,
Eagle, Elsner Estates, Exeter, Fairmont, Firth, Fontanelle, Fremont-West, Friend, Garrison, Geneva, Grafton,
Greenwood, Hallam, Hampton, Hickman, Holland, Hooper, Lincoln, Milford, Mynard, Nickerson, Osceola,
Palmyra, Panama, Plattsmouth, Plymouth, Rising City, Seward, Shelby, Staplehurst, Tekamah, Uehling, Ulysses,
Walton, Waverly, Wilber, Woodland Hills and York.
Providing Access to Meters
If you live in a community that does not have automated meter reading yet, a Black Hills Energy meter reader
will read your natural gas meter approximately every 30 days. Black Hills Energy personnel must have access
to meters at anytime for any reasonable purpose. Black Hills Energy may discontinue service if not allowed
access to a meter upon request, or at any time in the event of fraud, illegal or unsafe use of services.
Locked gates, family pets, extreme weather or inside meters can prevent us from reading your meter on the
scheduled read date. Unlocking gates, keeping pets restrained, and removing snow and ice from around the gas
meter all help ensure you receive an accurate monthly meter read and bill.
Natural Gas Meter (continued on next page)
13