Consumers Energy installing new meters

A Consumers Energy official said the company is sending notice to its customers regarding a plan to install new electric meters.
The task is to be undertaken later this month, according to the company’s communications director, Dennis McKee. McKee addressed St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday in an effort to spread word about the project.
He said the company has upgraded 610,000 of 1.8 million in the state and most of St. Joseph County is next in its service area. The eastern section, however, will be updated next year as part of its Bronson service center upgrade.
McKee said the new meters will have the capability of sending text messages to company readers regarding monthly energy usage and alerting officials when a power outage occurs. The technology on the new meters, he said, is far and away superior to the soon-to-be-replaced meters.