Here is a list of companeis that provide infrastructure and solutions for Automatic Meter Readings:

Itron and Badger are two of the major companies which provide automatic meter reading services.  By conducting the automatated meter readings, these companies are uniquely positioned in America's energy future.

Data Management services are unsurprisingly handled by the networking giant Cisco.

New entrants into the field are always a possibility.   Contracts for meter reading services which require less manpower have been criticized as creating job losses.   An unidentified spokesperson involved with the industry stated that the technology would actually help create better paying and more sophisticated jobs as America transitioned into a full fledged information based society.