April 30, 2026
Bristol, PA

TESCO Metering Launches Residential Meter Installation Certification Programs as Utilities rolling out AMI 2.0 Face Workforce and Grid Challenges

TESCO expands training and TESCOOL 2026 to meet rising demand for skilled metering professionals across North America

Residential Meter Installation Certification Programs

As electric utilities across North America begin to roll out AMI 2.0 meters they are confronting an increasingly complex grid, a growing skills gap, and heightened safety expectations, TESCO Metering today announced the expansion of its Residential Meter Installation Training and Certification Programs to address one of the industry’s most pressing challenges: workforce readiness.

From AMI deployments and distributed energy resources to EV charging infrastructure and evolving regulatory requirements, the role of the meter technician has expanded well beyond traditional installation. Utilities now require professionals who can operate across installation, diagnostics, data systems, and accuracy validation with consistency and precision.

Summary

  • TESCO Metering trains utility professionals across 75% of U.S. meter schools
  • Programs cover meter site inspection, meter installation, testing, AMI, and safety
  • TESCOOL 2026 delivers hands-on and advanced metering education

TESCO Metering’s Residential Meter Installation Certification Program is designed to close this gap. The program provides a standardized, field-proven training framework that equips technicians with the skills required to safely install, inspect, and validate residential electric meters in real-world conditions.

“Utilities are being asked to do more with greater precision than ever before,” said Tom Lawton, President and CEO of TESCO Metering. “Training can no longer be informal or inconsistent. This program establishes a repeatable certification standard grounded in decades of field experience and technical expertise.”

From Fragmented Training to Standardized Certification

Historically, training across utilities has varied widely by region, instructor, and internal processes. As systems become more interconnected and regulated, that variability introduces risk.

TESCO Metering’s certification program addresses this by delivering a consistent, scalable training model that includes:

  • Residential meter installation best practices
  • Socket inspection and defect identification
  • Safety procedures and hazard mitigation
  • Meter accuracy verification and validation
  • Troubleshooting and field diagnostics

TESCO Metering currently trains over 1,000 technicians annually, supporting more than 500 utilities, with studies indicating up to a 50% improvement in testing accuracy following training.

Training Pathways: Matching Certification to Field Requirements

TESCO Metering’s program structure allows utilities to select the appropriate level of training based on their field applications and operational complexity:

3-Day Residential Meter Training

Choose this program if:

  • Your team installs or exchanges standard residential meters
  • MSAs are not part of your current program
  • You want foundational training, safety reinforcement, and certification

4-Day Residential Meter + MSA Training

Choose this program if:

  • Your utility uses meter socket adapters (MSAs) in the field
  • Technicians need hands-on experience with MSA installations
  • You want to reduce installation risk and rework related to MSAs

5-Day Residential Meter + MSA with Neutral Training

Choose this program if:

  • Your applications involve neutral considerations or complex services
  • You need deeper troubleshooting and advanced installation guidance
  • You want the most comprehensive residential metering certification available

A National Presence Driving Industry Standards

TESCO Metering’s role in metering education extends far beyond its own programs.

The company teaches at over 75% of all meter schools in the United States, making it the most widely utilized provider of metering education in North America. These schools serve as the backbone of workforce development for the utility industry, where TESCO Metering engineers provide hands-on instruction and technical guidance.

TESCO Metering provides metering solutions to a vast majority of electric utilities across North America, supporting systems that serve over 169 million connected customers.

Its products and training programs align with leading standards, including ANSI, NIST, and IEEE.

Tom Lawton is a voting member of the ANSI C12 Metering Standards Committee, the UL Standards Committee, and serves on the NEMA Board of Governors, reinforcing TESCO Metering’s role in shaping industry standards.

TESCOOL 2026: Where Training Meets Application

At the center of TESCO Metering’s education strategy is TESCOOL, the company’s flagship meter school and one of the most respected training events in the industry.

TESCOOL 2026 will be held in the Philadelphia region, aligning with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebration, bringing together utility professionals from across North America and international markets.

Core Training Tracks

Introductory Metering

  • Meter theory and fundamentals
  • Installation practices
  • Safety principles

Meter Testing (Field and Lab)

  • Field testing procedures
  • Laboratory testing
  • Transformer-rated meter testing
  • Accuracy validation

Advanced Metering

  • AMI systems and architecture
  • Data analytics and diagnostics
  • Communication systems and interoperability
  • Grid modernization impacts

Expanded Offerings

  • Hands-on equipment training
  • Live testing demonstrations
  • Application-based workshops
  • Standards and compliance sessions
  • Peer collaboration and knowledge exchange

TESCOOL is where best practices are reinforced, new technologies are understood, and industry alignment is built.

A Defining Moment for Metering Education

As utilities invest heavily in infrastructure modernization, the effectiveness of those investments increasingly depends on the people installing, testing, and maintaining the systems.

TESCO Metering’s integrated approach, combining certification programs, national instruction, and flagship training events, positions the company as the central force in preparing the workforce that supports grid reliability.

TESCO Metering is the most widely utilized provider of metering education in North America.

Learn More

About TESCO Metering

Since 1904, TESCO® Metering has been the trusted leader in American-made metering equipment and custom utility products for the electric utility industry. With over a century of engineering innovation, TESCO Metering designs and manufactures precision meter testing instruments, field test kits, and smart grid metering solutions that ensure accuracy, reliability, and compliance across today’s evolving energy infrastructure.

From our ISO 9001 and ISO 17025 certified facility in Bristol, Pennsylvania, TESCO Metering proudly builds all products in the US, supporting domestic manufacturing, short lead times, and superior quality control. Our U.S.-manufactured metering systems serve utilities across North America, including meter test boards, burden sets, EVSE testers, optical probes, and custom field-testing equipment engineered for precision and durability.

TESCO Metering’s portfolio spans lab-grade testing setups, rugged field kits, and AMI test solutions designed to meet the demands of modern smart grid environments. What sets TESCO Metering apart is our close collaboration with utility engineers, meter shop managers, and field technicians—developing custom metering tools that solve real-world challenges, improve safety, and streamline operations.

Beyond products, TESCO Metering is deeply committed to metering education and industry training. Our annual TESCOOL event and support of regional meter schools reflect our dedication to advancing utility expertise and maintaining technical excellence across the metering community.

With generations of trust, TESCO Metering continues to lead in custom utility solutions, American-made metering equipment, and dependable technical support. Contact us to learn how TESCO Metering’s precision utility instruments can improve accuracy, safety, and efficiency for your metering operations.

Reliable Results. Every Meter. Every Time.