A system (100, 400) for reading information from a meter and transmitting the information to a server, the system comprising: a meter configured to estimate an amount of a product delivered by an utility throughout the meter, wherein the meter includes an optical communication device; a coupling device attached to a face of the meter, wherein the coupling device comprises a metallic plate attached to the face of the meter, the metallic plate having a slot that allows the optical communication device of the meter to freely exchange an infrared beam with an optical meter reader apparatus, wherein the metallic plate has first and second blocks (420, 432) that can fit inside first and second slots (130, 132) of the optical meter reader apparatus; and the optical meter reader apparatus for reading the information from the meter, wherein the optical meter reader apparatus comprises a housing; a housing extension connected to the housing, the housing extension having a flat face; a first slot formed on the flat face; a second slot formed on the flat face; and an optical communication module located within the housing and the housing extension and configured to exchange information with the meter using infrared waves, wherein the optical meter reader apparatus is detachably attached to the coupling device by inserting the first and second blocks (430, 432) into the first and second slots (130, 132), respectively so that the optical communication module is aligned with the optical communication device. a meter configured to estimate an amount of a product delivered by an utility throughout the meter, wherein the meter includes an optical communication device; a coupling device attached to a face of the meter, wherein the coupling device comprises a metallic plate attached to the face of the meter, the metallic plate having a slot that allows the optical communication device of the meter to freely exchange an infrared beam with an optical meter reader apparatus, wherein the metallic plate has first and second blocks (420, 432) that can fit inside first and second slots (130, 132) of the optical meter reader apparatus; and the optical meter reader apparatus for reading the information from the meter, wherein the optical meter reader apparatus comprises a housing; a housing extension connected to the housing, the housing extension having a flat face; a first slot formed on the flat face; a second slot formed on the flat face; and an optical communication module located within the housing and the housing extension and configured to exchange information with the meter using infrared waves, a housing; a housing extension connected to the housing, the housing extension having a flat face; a first slot formed on the flat face; a second slot formed on the flat face; and an optical communication module located within the housing and the housing extension and configured to exchange information with the meter using infrared waves, wherein the optical meter reader apparatus is detachably attached to the coupling device by inserting the first and second blocks (430, 432) into the first and second slots (130, 132), respectively so that the optical communication module is aligned with the optical communication device.