In a move that should reduce headaches caused by recurring water and electricity bill errors, Kahramaa has announced plans to adopt an automatic meter reading system.

The Peninsula reports:

AMR allows collection and transferring of data to a central database for billing, troubleshooting, and analysing. This technology will help the service provider avoid periodic trips to each physical location to read a meter.

Another advantage is that billing can be based on near real-time consumption rather than on estimates based on past or predicted consumption. This can help both utility providers and customers better control the use and production of water and electricity.

“The remote system will help avoid mistakes in the billing. It will also allow us to cut or connect water and electricity supply to a facility from a distance without entering the premises. This is particularly helpful when customers are travelling out of the country,” Kahramaa chairman Engineer Eisa Al Kuwari said in a press conference yesterday.

The company said it will start rolling out the new system across Doha this year and complete its upgrade by 2016.

Have you ever had to deal with an incorrect electricity or water bill here?