I work for first energy, am in meter services......smart meters will eliminate the need for meter readers......I was told by someone in management that the smart meters will start being installed in the next 2/3 years. New hire meter readers drive their own vehicle......there is talk here in PA of changing the meter readers back to the days of PRE first energy......doing single phase disconnects and reconnects and final reads......freeing up our time to concentrate on other work. I hear that will not happen overnight either and is just a proposal at this point.
It is my opinion that the meter readers are the worst treated employees in the company. They are pushed and pushed to do an amount of work that is physically impossible for a person to do, also an amount of work that compromises their safety due to work load/time involved. Meter Reading was listed this year as one of the top ten worst jobs in the US....due to working conditions and longevity of job. It is your decision, but I think you should have all the facts.
Moving to other departments such as line dept, electrical equipment or meter services used to be common......but do not see it happening at all these days, if you are a meter reader that is where you stay for the most part.
Once the meter readers are done away with due to technology it is anyone's guess what will happen....as I said.....tough decision.....but just a little info to help you with that decision.
The agony of working for FE here in PA has eased up a bit in the last year due to a new president who seems to "respect" the employees and want to work with them vs work against them......It has not always been that way.....It has been a tough road for Penelec employees who were gobbled up by FE.....but it seems to be a bit less bumpy these days.....we have a long way to go.....but........all companies do. Good luck with your choice.
Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
Abraham Lincoln