By Chris Meyers
Staff writer

     An effort to change electric meters for city utility customers has passed the halfway mark recently.
    Of the 4,000 meters purchased in March of last year, city electric department employees recently    surpassed the halfway point by having installed about 2,300 of the digital meters.
     The original style of meter, which has several dials on the face, can still be found on some homes in the city.
    Many in Columbia City feature a display similar to a car odometer.
     The newest variety, though, have a digital readout which not only ensures an accurate reading, but also allows the meter reader to take a reading remotely from the road, or as far away as two blocks.
     All the meters have been changed for rural customers, which will make the chore of reading the meters in the winter easier.
     “It’s not only a safety feature, but it also helps our meter reader from walking through snowdrifts,” said Larry Whetstone, electric department superintendent.
     For the most part, the task of changing the meters has fallen on the city’s meter reader, but electric department crews also lend a hand when they can.
     Whetstone estimated the changeover in Columbia City would not take as long since the homes are much closer together than those of rural customers.
     The more accurate digital readings have meant some customers have seen an increase in their bills, but the city’s billing records also show some customers have seen a decrease in their bills.
     When reading meters with dials for the display, the needles would often be in between numbers, which meant the usage had to be rounded down.
     “It’s a more accurate way to measure your electric use,” Whetstone said.
     Columbia City bought the digital meters from Franklin when it changed to an even newer model which allows electric shutoffs to be done from a central office instead of on site.
     Whetstone said the city was able to save considerably by buying the meters used from another municipality.

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