Skip to main content
Report Outage
Current Outages
Meter Readings
Contact Us
Contact Update Form
Home

OUTAGE REPORTING: 1.800.521.9879

Menu
  • Members can now pay their bills online and check energy usage. Notice the Smart hub and Pay Bill Now buttons on the home page. 

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Business Office Info
      • Directions
    • Careers
    • Code of Regulations
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • Code of Regulations
      • Mission Statement
      • Statement of Ideals
    • Competitive Difference
      • Deregulation and Choice
      • Generation Assets
      • Renewable Energy
    • Contact Us
      • Contact Update Form
    • Nondiscrimination Statement
    • Service Territory
  • Acct Services
    • Billing Services
      • Automatic Direct Bill Payment
      • Billing Rates
      • Budget Plan
      • Member Assistance
      • Payment of Bills
    • Capital Credit Retirement
    • Capital Credits
    • Financial Assistance
    • Financial Assistance
    • Service Fee
    • SmartHub
  • Community
    • 4H Involvement
    • Community - Youth
    • Operation Helping Others
    • Scholarships
    • Youth Tour
  • Member info
    • ACRE Coop Owners for Political Action
      • ACRE - Frequently Asked Questions
    • Annual Meeting Notice
      • Directions to L. W. Miller School
    • Annual Meeting of Members
    • Cardinal Plant Tour
    • Energy Alternatives - EnviroWatts
      • EnviroWatts Application
    • FAQ
    • Ohio Cooperative Living
    • Peak Management
    • Renewable Energy
  • Operations
    • Service Specifications
      • Meter Pole - Overhead Service
      • Overhead Service - No Mast
      • Overhead Service - With Mast
      • Meter Pole - UG Service
      • UG Service - Pedestal Panel
      • UG Service - Pedestal Post
      • UG Service - Structure Mount
      • Ohio MH Commision
    • Before You Dig - OUPS and OGPUPS
    • Non-Outage Trouble Form
    • Reporting Outages
    • Rolling Power Outages FAQ
    • Trees and Right-of-Way
      • Select the Right Tree
    • Service Disconnect
  • Services
    • Geothermal
    • Air Conditioning
    • Dual Fuel
    • Generator Transfer Switch
      • Generator Wattage Guide
      • Which Generator to Buy
    • Home Energy Audit
    • Radio Controlled Switches
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Water Heaters
  • Useful Tools

Advanced Meters

Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative is making investments to improve our service to members and strengthen the electric grid. In August, we finished replacing all 17,148 of our members’ meters with a new, advanced metering system that will offer more efficient and accurate meter readings. This metering system monitors and reads members’ electric meters and displays the data for members in an easy-to-understand way that can help them manage their energy usage. 

Here’s why the transition to advanced meters is a benefit to GMEC members: 

  • Automatic readings
    Advanced meters send accurate, real-time energy usage data to the co-op via radio frequency. This two-way communication happens automatically, which means no more manual meter readings! 
     
  • Improved energy usage information
    Members now have the ability to view valuable usage data in monthly, daily, and even hourly formats, helping them to budget, forecast future bills, and find energy savings opportunities. 
     
  • Faster outage response times
    Advanced meters communicate with the co-op in real-time. When GMEC loses connectivity with a meter during an outage, we are able to pinpoint the exact location and respond more quickly. Plus, advanced meters improve electric service reliability and power quality, which contributes to fewer outages, blinks, and surges. 
     
  • More effective load management
    GMEC can better monitor voltage levels with advanced meters to improve power quality, reduce the number of spikes, blinks, and shortages, and forecast future demand. 

We have our members’ best interests at heart and believe advanced meters will help us better serve you! For more information about the new metering system, give us a call at 800-521-9879 or check out our FAQ section below.

What is an AMI meter?

AMI stands for Advanced Metering Infrastructure. AMI meters, referred to by GMEC as advanced meters, are digital devices that measure and record electricity usage in real-time.

How do AMI meters work?

These advanced meters automatically collect and transmit metering information back to our office via radio frequency. This process is similar to other technologies you are familiar with, such as baby monitors and garage door openers. 

Why did Guernsey-Muskingum switch to smart meters?

Smart meters benefit our members with greater accuracy in billing, faster outage response, and detailed data that Guernsey-Muskingum and its members can use to manage electric use much more accurately. Plus, members will no longer have to manually check their meter and report meter readings. 

Is there anything I need to do to switch to a smart meter?

No! Guernsey-Muskingum already switched your metering system to a smart meter. All conversions were completed in August of 2024. 

Do I still need to report my usage each month?

No. Your electric usage will now be shared with the co-op automatically and in real time. No more manual meter readings! 

How are smart meters more efficient?

Smart meters communicate directly and immediately with the co-op, allowing for more comprehensive and faster data collection. Smart meters help utilities like Guernsey-Muskingum collect accurate electric usage data that can help us monitor usage and improve billing and resource management. 

Smart meters can also communicate outage information directly to the co-op and help us prevent outages by identifying failing equipment or overloaded situations before they turn into power outages. If an outage occurs, the system will rapidly collect information from individual meters and report the outage so power can be restored, even if the member is away from home. 

How will my personal information be protected?

Members’ energy usage and operational data will be used by Guernsey-Muskingum Electric Cooperative for billing purposes, troubleshooting, and resolving problems with equipment or services. We treat our members’ personal information and data confidentially. Our use of load data will be strictly limited to the provision of electric service. We will not disclose, share, rent, lease, or sell individual customer data to any third party or affiliate for any other purpose. 

Are there any health concerns associated with this new metering system?

Research conducted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Electric Power Research Institute, the Utilities Telecom Council and others has found no negative health impacts from digital meters that send information via a wireless communications network. The radio frequencies (RF) emitted by digital meters fall well below the maximum recommended in federal guidelines. 

The following information is from the American Cancer Society: "How much RF energy that people are exposed to from the smart meter depends on how far they are from the smart meter antenna and how the smart meter sends its signal. The frequency and power of the RF waves given off by a smart meter are similar to that of a typical cell phone, cordless phone, or residential Wi-Fi router. Smart meters typically send and receive short messages about 1 percent of the time. Because the smart meter antenna usually is located outside the home, people are much farther away from the source of RF waves than some other possible sources of exposure to RF radiation, such as personal cell phones and cordless phones. In addition, walls between the person and the smart meter’s antenna further reduce the amount of RF energy exposure. This means that the amount of RF radiation that someone would be exposed to from a smart meter is probably much lower than the amount that they would be exposed to from other sources."

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News

Office Hours

Mon – Fri (7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.)

17 S. Liberty St.
New Concord, Ohio 43762
Fax: 740-826-7171
Ohio Toll Free: 1-800-521-9879

Project Ohio

Follow Us Online

©2025 Guernsey Muskingum Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
      • History
    • Board of Directors
    • Business Office Info
      • Directions
    • Careers
    • Code of Regulations
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • Code of Regulations
      • Mission Statement
      • Statement of Ideals
    • Competitive Difference
      • Deregulation and Choice
      • Generation Assets
      • Renewable Energy
    • Contact Us
      • Contact Update Form
    • Nondiscrimination Statement
    • Service Territory
  • Acct Services
    • Billing Services
      • Automatic Direct Bill Payment
      • Billing Rates
      • Budget Plan
      • Member Assistance
      • Payment of Bills
    • Capital Credit Retirement
    • Capital Credits
    • Financial Assistance
    • Financial Assistance
    • Service Fee
    • SmartHub
  • Community
    • 4H Involvement
    • Community - Youth
    • Operation Helping Others
    • Scholarships
    • Youth Tour
  • Member info
    • ACRE Coop Owners for Political Action
      • ACRE - Frequently Asked Questions
    • Annual Meeting Notice
      • Directions to L. W. Miller School
    • Annual Meeting of Members
    • Cardinal Plant Tour
    • Energy Alternatives - EnviroWatts
      • EnviroWatts Application
    • FAQ
    • Ohio Cooperative Living
    • Peak Management
    • Renewable Energy
  • Operations
    • Service Specifications
      • Meter Pole - Overhead Service
      • Overhead Service - No Mast
      • Overhead Service - With Mast
      • Meter Pole - UG Service
      • UG Service - Pedestal Panel
      • UG Service - Pedestal Post
      • UG Service - Structure Mount
      • Ohio MH Commision
    • Before You Dig - OUPS and OGPUPS
    • Non-Outage Trouble Form
    • Reporting Outages
    • Rolling Power Outages FAQ
    • Trees and Right-of-Way
      • Select the Right Tree
    • Service Disconnect
  • Services
    • Geothermal
    • Air Conditioning
    • Dual Fuel
    • Generator Transfer Switch
      • Generator Wattage Guide
      • Which Generator to Buy
    • Home Energy Audit
    • Radio Controlled Switches
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Water Heaters
  • Useful Tools