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A Degree for thousand Readers EssaySouth Illinois Electric Company is a Member-Owned, Non-Profit Service Organization whose mission is to provide our member-owners with competitively priced, reliable electricity, superior customer service and innovative solutions to enhance the quality of life in our communities. Organized in 1938 for the purpose of making electricity usable to rural areas, South Eastern Illinois Electric Cooperative has grown steadily and now serves over 23,000 accounts through some 3,500 miles of power line.(South Eastern Illinois Electric Cooperative, Inc. ) Meter Readers A meter reader is a public-service corporation employee who reads consumption meters for the purpose of billing. He or she may read gas, electric, and water meters, in addition to inspecting meters and utility boxes to confirm that they are in good condition, and checking for signs of tampering or fraud. There are no educational requirements for members of this profession, although most m eter readers hold a postgraduate school diploma.The need for this profession is also on the decline, as many utilities have turned to automated systems which read meters remotely or read macro numbers of meters via handheld units which communicate wirelessly, reducing the need for employees. Every meter reader has a route that he or she follows. Many often ended large portions of their route on foot, driving to a central point and fanning out from their vehicles, so they need to be in good physical condition. They must also be willing to tolerate inclement weather, as meter readings are not canceled for things like rain.See moreThe Story of an Hour literary Analysis EssayEach one carries a handheld device which is used to record meter data or to interface directly with meters to realise data. At each household on the meter readers route, he or she notes down the customer identification and the reading on the customers meter. People in this bit often face challenges like locked gates, hostile dogs, or inaccessible meters along their routes, although many utilities issue meter reading dates to their customers and ask them to plan ahead for their reading.If a meter cannot be read, the meter reader leaves an appointment card, asking to reschedule a date to read the meter. Once the meter readers route is finished, he or she returns to the office to submit the data to the billing department, and bills are issued. Because most utilities cover a large area, there are usually enough routes to keep readers interfering every day. Many grow very familiar with their routes and they are able to complete themquickly.Working as a meter reader requires a towering degree of self-discipline, because people in this position work alone in the field, without supervision. They may have varying degrees of interaction with the public, depending on when they set out on their routes and the communities they work in. Experienced meter readers may also periodically be asked to acco mpany trainees as they learn the process of meter reading and following a route.