Brisbane, Australia --- (METERING.COM) --- November 21, 2006 – A new association for utility metering professionals in Australia and New Zealand was launched yesterday during this year’s Metering, Billing/CRM Australia/New Zealand conference and exhibition. Called Utility Metering Association (UMA), it will provide a forum where utility industry professionals and non-professionals (electricity, gas, water, irrigation) can discuss and debate issues associated with the development of a holistic, strategic approach to metering systems.

Maria Cugnetto, founder of UMA, presented the new association and the website to a wide audience of metering professionals. All participants at the conference were offered the opportunity to become founding members of UMA.

Based on the interest and involvement of the potential members, different committees and working groups will be established over the next few months. In addition to the possibility of participating in working groups, members will be provided with a source of non-commercial metering-related information through the UMA website. This independent source of utility news and information will assist them to keep abreast of issues relating to national energy reforms, standards and metering technologies, global issues and industry links.

The association is working towards an inaugural meeting early in 2007. In October 2007 the first results of the working groups are expected to be presented during the 5th Metering, Billing/CRM Australia/New Zealand conference, which will be held in Melbourne.