Hingham, MA was among the first municipal lighting plants in Massachusetts (there are 40 of them) that provided automated electronic billing to their customers. Although this photo hasn't a lot to do directly with insulators, the forementioned nearly-cutting-edge billing system certainly helped to buy plenty of them with a positive cash flow!. The unique drop-off point shown here was at the former Light Plant office at the corner of Central and Elm Streets (aka the "Little Red School House" built in 1878 and converted for Light Department use in 1960). The 24-hour deposit box was illuminated by a photoelectric lighting control that is seen right above the box. A boxy glass sign had a stain-glass lens stenciled "Payments Here". Upon daily collection of receipts, each was converted to computer code and all transactions transcribed onto magnetic tape. Towards the end of each month these tapes were sent to Woburn, MA (hand-delivered by one of the Light Plant's employees) to a processing facility there. A couple days thereafter the tapes were converted to code by the Woburn company compatible for the Light Plant's billing computer/printer and returned to the Light Office. Billing was then sent out the first of every month.

By 1980 technology had advanced so that daily meter readings and billing adjustments could be done in-house using a central computer in the office.

Shown is the late Dwight Mayo, Light Plant Technician and Meter Department Supervisor dropping off his electric bill payment at the forementioned Elm Street drop-off box. Mr. Mayo was employed by the Hingham Light Plant from 1955 through 1987. He served as an electrician for the United States Navy before his employment with the town.

It is amazing how utility billing has evolved through the decades! And what you just read was simply the beginning of this industry-wide revolution!