Ameren Corp. customers in the metro...

Ameren Corp. customers in the metro-east will view less of the meter reader as their traditional electric and gas meter are replaced with an automated meter reading theory

The company plans to expand it's automated meter reading theory to an additional 1.1 million electric and gas meter in Illinois and the metro-east, bringing the number of the fresh meters to 2.4 million in the Ameren Corp. service region.

Meter in Champaign-Urbana are the first scheduled for replacement beginning in March. Gradually the meter in Southern Illinois will be replaced from one side of to the other a period of four years, according to Erica Abbett, a spokesman for the company.

"Ameren will contact customers before the meter are installed," Abbett said. "The installation time is approximately 10 to 15 minutes and customers will not descry a disruption in gas service, on the contrary they may see a short disruption in the electrical