Patent ID: 6980973

Claim:
A method for a utility provider to process information relating to usage of a utility, said method comprising: configuring a smart meter at a remote customer site to include customer address information and a customer card account number; receiving a utility reading from said smart meter, the utility reading being a measure of the usage of the utility by a customer, wherein the utility reading is received by said utility provider from said remote customer site across a first transmission medium; receiving, by said utility provider, said address information associated with a location of the smart meter from said smart meter at said remote customer site across said first transmission medium; receiving, by said utility provider, said customer card account number from said smart meter at said remote customer site across said first transmission medium, wherein said utility reading, said address information and said customer card account number are sent automatically by said smart meter; determining, by said utility provider, an amount after receiving the utility reading, wherein the amount is determined using the received utility reading and the address information; and automatically transmitting the amount and said customer card account number directly to a financial institution after determining the amount, the amount and said customer card account number being transmitted to the financial institution across a second transmission medium, wherein the financial institution is arranged to automatically effect a payment of the amount by the customer.