Gavernini and Associates (2004). Modern electric networks use automated electric utility meter reading in place of the more costly manual meter reading. In the automated system, meters from several customers are linked wirelessly to a single receiver. The meter sends monthly signals to a designated receiver to report the customer’s consumption of electricity. The data are then channeled to a central computer to generate the utility bills. The objective is to determine the smallest number of receivers needed to serve a given number of meters. In real life, the problem encompasses thousands of meters and receivers. This problem deals with 10 meters and 8 possible locations for receivers, with the following configurations:

Receiver 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Meters 1, 2, 3 2, 3, 9 5, 6, 7 7, 9, 10 3, 6, 8 1, 4, 7, 9 4, 5, 9 1, 4, 8