A method of transmitting a power status of a meter associated with a mesh node (104; 106; 108; 110; 112; 114; 200) to a mesh gate (102; 230) in a mesh network comprising a plurality of mesh nodes (104; 106; 108; 110; 112; 114; 200), wherein mesh nodes (104; 106; 108; 114; 200) that are not configured within the mesh network to forward messages are scheduled to transmit messages first, the method comprising: recognizing a power status change at the meter (104; 106; 108; 110; 112; 114; 200); if the meter (104; 106; 108; 114; 200) is scheduled to transmit first, transmitting a notification message to at least one neighboring meter (110; 112; 200) towards the mesh gate (102; 230), wherein the notification message includes a power status indicator and a meter identifier; if the meter (110; 112) is not scheduled to transmit first, waiting a predetermined time period to receive a notification message from at least one neighboring meter (104; 106; 108; 112; 114; 200), responsive to receiving the notification message, adding its own meter identifier to the received notification message before retransmitting the modified notification message to at least one neighboring meter, and retransmitting the notification message; the method further comprising: responsive to a first failure to receive an acknowledgement, retransmitting the notification message over an alternative mesh network path; responsive to a second failure to receive an acknowledgement, retransmitting the notification message through a newly discovered mesh network path; and responsive to a third failure to receive an acknowledgement, associating with a new mesh network and retransmitting the notification message over the new mesh network. recognizing a power status change at the meter (104; 106; 108; 110; 112; 114; 200); if the meter (104; 106; 108; 114; 200) is scheduled to transmit first, transmitting a notification message to at least one neighboring meter (110; 112; 200) towards the mesh gate (102; 230), wherein the notification message includes a power status indicator and a meter identifier; if the meter (110; 112) is not scheduled to transmit first, waiting a predetermined time period to receive a notification message from at least one neighboring meter (104; 106; 108; 112; 114; 200), responsive to receiving the notification message, adding its own meter identifier to the received notification message before retransmitting the modified notification message to at least one neighboring meter, and retransmitting the notification message; the method further comprising: responsive to a first failure to receive an acknowledgement, retransmitting the notification message over an alternative mesh network path; responsive to a second failure to receive an acknowledgement, retransmitting the notification message through a newly discovered mesh network path; and responsive to a third failure to receive an acknowledgement, associating with a new mesh network and retransmitting the notification message over the new mesh network. responsive to a first failure to receive an acknowledgement, retransmitting the notification message over an alternative mesh network path; responsive to a second failure to receive an acknowledgement, retransmitting the notification message through a newly discovered mesh network path; and responsive to a third failure to receive an acknowledgement, associating with a new mesh network and retransmitting the notification message over the new mesh network. <EOS>