Will meter readers be replaced by AI?
Updated
Meter readers score 41 out of 100 for AI exposure. AI helps with 48% of their task time, and they stay in charge. AI can do another 17%. 35% needs a person.
- 17% AI can do it
- 48% AI helps
- 35% Needs a person
Moderate exposure
Higher than 55% of the 923 jobs we scored.
Task by task
We graded 12 tasks, most exposed first. AI can do 2 of them, helps with 6 and leaves 4 to people.
| Task | AI exposure |
|---|---|
| Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled. Data upload is routine digital transfer; returning devices is minor. | 75% AI can do it |
| Update client address and meter location information. Address and meter location updates are routine data entry. | 75% AI can do it |
| Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs. Filing problem reports is digital; spotting issues needs presence. | 55% AI helps |
| Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations. AI can flag anomalies and suggest causes; revisits stay manual. | 45% AI helps |
| Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible. Reschedule messages are automatable; leaving them at sites is not. | 45% AI helps |
| Report lost or broken keys. Key loss reports are short forms AI can draft. | 45% AI helps |
| Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers. AI can answer billing questions, but live conversations stay human. | 35% AI helps |
| Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers. Reading dials needs presence; logging the readings is automatable. | 30% AI helps |
| Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals. Visual inspection for tampering and damage needs someone on site. | 12% Needs a person |
| Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials. Walking routes to read dials is physical field work. | 8% Needs a person |
| Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations. Turning service on or off requires physical work on premises. | 5% Needs a person |
| Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters. Repairing meters needs physical skill and tools on site. | 5% Needs a person |
How meter readers compare
All jobs (923)
Office and administrative support (51)
Pay and outlook in the US
- Median pay
- $48,150 a year, May 2025
- People employed
- 19,430 in the US, May 2025
- Projected change in jobs
- -10.5% from 2024 to 2034
Skills to build
- Verify abnormal consumption readings in Microsoft Excel
- Plan and map meter routes in GIS systems
- Inspect meters for tampering and broken seals on site
- Perform preventative maintenance and minor meter repairs on site
- Connect and disconnect services at customer premises
- Answer billing questions using billing software
Safer roles nearby
5 related jobs with lower scores.
Questions about meter readers and AI
Will AI replace meter readers?
Partly. About 4 in 10 working hours go to tasks AI can already do, mostly uploading meter data from hand-held computers to office computers and updating client address and meter location records. Reading dials, inspecting seals and connecting services stay with people because they need someone on site.
Which meter reader tasks is AI taking over?
Data upload and address updates are the most exposed, each with an exposure score of 75. Uploading hand-held data is routine digital transfer, and address and meter location changes are routine data entry. Filing problem reports scores 55, since the form is digital, though spotting the issue still needs a person in the field.
Which meter reader tasks stay human?
Connecting and disconnecting services scores 5 on exposure, since turning service on or off takes physical work on premises. Preventative maintenance and minor meter repairs also score 5, because they need hands and tools at the meter. Walking routes to read dials scores 8, and inspecting meters for tampering and broken seals scores 12.
How can meter readers stay valuable?
Learn GIS and mapping software to plan routes and find hard-to-reach meters faster. Use Microsoft Excel to check abnormal readings before a revisit, and record likely causes of fluctuations. Take on field inspections for tampering and damage, and answer billing questions in person using billing software.
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