Ameren Electric Company serves more than 15,000 residents in Excelsior Springs and recently completed installing new electrical smart meters for their customers. John Luth, director of the smart meter program, explained the benefits people can utilize now that the meters are installed. According to Luth, Ameren has utilized an automated metering system for the past 20 years. They were one of the first utility companies to use that type and size of system for their electric consumers. Luth explained over time, like everything else, there comes a period when replacing and upgrading is necessary. He said Ameren has been upgrading its meter reading system, and its new smart meters have more features. One of the new features consists of Ameren being able to read the meters more effectively. “Many years ago, people would have had to walk around and read meters,” he said. “Now the meter can be read every 15 minutes.” Now that Ameren can collect more data at once, it can be stored on a…