As smart metering rapidly evolves, gas utilities and cities worldwide face a key decision:
1、Should they upgrade existing mechanical gas meters with communication modules, or
2、Replace them completely with ultrasonic meters?
Each path has its own merits — but the right choice often depends on budget, infrastructure, and deployment scale.
Upgrading mechanical meters
Upgrading involves adding a smart reading module to existing meters, enabling wireless data transmission (LoRa/NB-IoT)
without replacing the core device.
✅ Lower upfront investment
✅ Minimal on-site work and faster deployment
✅ Seamless integration into existing billing systems
✅ Proven reliability backed by years of use
This approach helps utilities modernize at scale — ideal for regions with thousands of meters in operation and limited budgets.
Replacing with ultrasonic meters
Ultrasonic meters represent the future of metering — no moving parts, higher precision, and advanced data analytics. However:
⚠️ Full replacement of old meters is required
⚠️ Higher initial investment and installation complexity
⚠️ ROI takes longer to achieve
For utilities seeking full digital transformation, ultrasonic meters are ideal for new infrastructure. But for widespread retrofits, upgrading mechanical meters remains the most cost-effective and sustainable strategy.
In summary:
Upgrade when you want faster returns and easy integration.
Replace when precision and long-term data insight are your top priorities.
Post time: Nov-11-2025
