Method for deactivating a utility meter

1. A method to deactivate a utility meter, comprising:

reading a first status indicator associated with the utility meter in a memory of a utility meter management host processor;

determining the status of the utility meter is active;

sending a first deactivation request message from the utility meter management host processor to an on-premise processor using a distribution network indicating a request to deactivate the utility meter;

deactivating the utility meter so that no output is available from the utility meter;

sending a first acknowledgement deactivation message from the on-premise processor to the utility meter management host processor using the distribution network, the acknowledgment confirming that output is no longer available from the utility meter; and

recording in the memory of the utility meter management host processor a date and an activation status indicator associated with the utility meter.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first deactivation request message comprises a time duration.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a gas meter.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a water meter.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the utility meter is a power meter.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

sending a second deactivation request message from the on-premise processor to a second utility meter indicating a request to deactivate the second utility meter using the 802.11-based wireless protocol;

deactivating the second utility meter so that no output is available from the second utility meter; and

receiving a response at the on-premise processor from the second utility meter using the 802.1 IX-based wireless protocol indicating the second utility meter is deactivated.

7. A method to activate a power meter, comprising:

sending a first activation request message from a host processor to an on-premise processor, the first activation message indicating a request so as to activate a power meter;

activating the power meter to provide power available from an output of the power meter;

sending an acknowledgement activation response message from the on-premise processor to the power control host processor; and

recording an active status indication associated with the power meter in a memory of the host processor.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the acknowledgment activation response message includes meter reading data.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the host processor further records the meter reading data.