Abstract: At least one new battery (60, 61) is added to a transponder unit (10) used in a subsurface pit enclosure (11), by removing a transponder housing (25, 26) from the pit enclosure (11), removing a breakout portion (33) of a top wall (32) of the transponder housing (25, 26) to provide an access opening (52) to access a pair of transponder terminals (50, 51) in the transponder housing (25, 26), mounting a battery (60, 61) sealed in a battery casing (62) to a side of the transponder housing (25, 26), with a pair of battery pack leads (47, 48) extending from the battery casing (62), connecting the battery pack leads (47, 48) to the transponder terminals (50, 51) in the transponder housing (25, 26), and providing a sealed battery pack cover (41) over both a top opening (65) in the battery casing (62) and the access opening (32) in the transponder housing ( 25, 26).

Abstract: A remote meter reading arrangement in which utility consumption data accumulated in an electronic metering unit located within an underground enclosure is transmitted via radio frequency signals to a handheld data collection unit or to a mobile data collection unit carried in a vehicle. An assembly for installation in the underground enclosure includes an antenna enclosure, a transponder enclosure and means for enclosing and protecting an antenna within the antenna enclosure and a transponder within the transponder enclosure. Two embodiments are disclosed.