A method for communicating utility-related data over at least one network comprising: receiving utility-related data from one or more premise units at a hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') during a first predetermined period of time, wherein utility-related data includes one or more of utility meter reading data, premise unit alarm data, premise unit event data, premise unit status data or firmware upgrade status data; securing the utility-related data at the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C'); and after establishing a WAN data connection at the hub device with a designated server, sending the utility-related data secured at the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') to the designated server in a Push message, starting at a second time, where the second time is scheduled by the designated server and wherein communication control information representative of a schedule is sent by the designated server to the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') in a Push ACK message to keep the WAN data connection between the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') and the designated server up when the designated server wants to continue to communicate with the hub device after receiving the utility-related data, wherein the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') acts as both a coordinator and gateway between a WAN and one or more HAN premise units, and wherein the communication control information establishes a call back time for the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C'), wherein the call back time is set to the stay-awake value "now" for asking the hub device to keep the WAN data connection between the designated server and to the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') up in order to continue to communicate between the hub device and the designated server. receiving utility-related data from one or more premise units at a hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') during a first predetermined period of time, wherein utility-related data includes one or more of utility meter reading data, premise unit alarm data, premise unit event data, premise unit status data or firmware upgrade status data; securing the utility-related data at the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C'); and after establishing a WAN data connection at the hub device with a designated server, sending the utility-related data secured at the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') to the designated server in a Push message, starting at a second time, where the second time is scheduled by the designated server and wherein communication control information representative of a schedule is sent by the designated server to the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') in a Push ACK message to keep the WAN data connection between the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') and the designated server up when the designated server wants to continue to communicate with the hub device after receiving the utility-related data, wherein the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') acts as both a coordinator and gateway between a WAN and one or more HAN premise units, and wherein the communication control information establishes a call back time for the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C'), wherein the call back time is set to the stay-awake value "now" for asking the hub device to keep the WAN data connection between the designated server and to the hub device (20A', 20B', 20C') up in order to continue to communicate between the hub device and the designated server.