How a 1972 Boeing Inventor Theodore Paraskevakos Transformed Utility Metering

Every smart meter installation today owes something to one breakthrough in 1972. ⚡

That’s when Theodore G. Paraskevakos, working at Boeing in Alabama, patented a device that could send utility readings over phone lines. 📞 It was the first step toward Automated Meter Reading (AMR)—a technology that changed how utilities operate.
Before AMR, meter reading meant door knocks, manual logs, and human error.

With AMR, utilities gained remote visibility, faster billing, and the ability to detect issues in real time.
Today, AMR and its evolution—AMI—power everything from leak detection to usage analytics. And it all started with one idea, 50 years ago. 💡
Paraskevakos, a true inventor with 50 patents worldwide—including one for vertical parking systems—is best known for his work on remote meter reading, which helped transform public works forever.

At Fieldman, we build on that legacy—empowering today’s crews with digital tools for AMI installation that keep utilities moving forward. ⚙️