Automatic Meter Reading Association

AMRA is an international, nonprofit, membership organization that addresses standardization, justification and deployment practices in the application and advancement of enhanced customer-service and resource-management technologies. AMRA offers membership services and educational forums that focus on AMR issues affecting electric, gas and water utility-service companies worldwide.

The association's mission is to support members through accurate and balanced educational forums, identification of new technologies, trends and common standards that will facilitate the link between the business needs of its members and the technology. These educational and networking opportunities help members make informed decisions about AMR and resource-management technology and participate more effectively in the metering, communications and data-management industry.

AMRA members — representatives from electric, gas and water utilities; communications carriers; equipment manufacturers; regulatory agencies; research organizations; financial-investment firms; and consultants — receive numerous member benefits, including a monthly newsletter, biannual AMR trials and installations updates, annual directory of automatic meter reading products and services, and discounted registration fees AMRA's annual symposium.

AMRA's annual symposium is the leading AMR-focused conference and trade show in North America. The symposium, held each year in September, provides vital information about strategic, implementation, technological, customer-service and marketing issues in the utility-service and AMR industry. AMRA also has sister organizations serving AMR communities in the United Kingdom and throughout Europe. AMR-industry pioneers formed AMRA in the United States in 1986, their UK counterparts launched UKAMRA in 1994, and EuroAMRA was created in 1997. Membership in any of the AMRA organizations brings international benefits through the groups' efforts to share information and resources.

The goals of AMRA are to:

• Serve as an information resource to enable users and suppliers to stay informed about emerging technologies and products, equipment compatibility, industry standards, relevant legislation and regulatory initiatives, trials and deployments.
• Promote forums for the discussion of key issues and concerns.
• Enable current and potential users of advanced metering and communications services to influence the direction of future products.
• Create opportunities to share experiences with other industry participants.
• Develop recommended practices and standards.
• Facilitate inter-industry cooperation and technology transfer.
• Provide information and support to the utility-service industry, and the regulatory and legislative communities.