My phone is wireless, my pager is wireless, and so is this shiny new macbook I am typing on…so why not 18,000 outdated water meters? As it turns out there was no reason at all water meters couldn’t be wireless. Matter of fact
, the benefits and cost savings were so significant we had no choice! So began the rather long & arduous task of changing out some 18,000 water meters to AMR (automatic meter reading). Here we are 17,996 meters later (Aug 2007) and Eden Prairie’s AMR program is in full swing!
What exactly is AMR you ask?
Well, at a basic level AMR technology enables accurate and timely meter reading with blinding efficiency. Translation: It’s fast!
But how does that benefit:
- The Customer?
- The Sewer & Water Utility?
- The City?
Okay, besides the obvious benefits like; no more walking house to house in three feet of snow, no more jumping fences, no more crawling around dark spaces with giant spiders lurking about, no more stepping in doo-doo, and no more frozen fingers that can barely grip a pencil let alone write out a 9 digit number.
Yes, besides all these wonderful aforementioned benefits here now are the top 10:
Top Ten Benefits of an AMR system:
- Less People with Fewer Vehicles: We used to send out 2 to 3 vehicles sometimes 4. We worked in 2 person teams. Given the right conditions just one of those meter readers– on foot– can typically read 200 to 300 meters during an eight-hour shift. Today, just one reader in one vehicle can read thousands of meters in an outing–in any condition!
- Safety: Lower incidence of injuries due to slips and falls, climbing over fences, the occasional mean dog/s, crawling into small spaces, have I told you about the spiders? Today, meters can be safely read–hands off–from the vehicle as we drive by. I did spill hot coffee in my lap last time out!?
- Reduced error rate: The results are in. A computer is thousands of times faster than a human and has a 0% error rate– if properly inputted. The readings are gathered by a wireless mobile unit that is hard wired into the vehicle, which in turn triangulates with 10 satellites. This data (readings) zapped from sometimes blocks away is later downloaded into another computer that spits out the bills. Welllllll…….there is more to it than that; but you get the general idea.
- Less Intrusion on our Customers: You know, in today’s post 911 World, it is just not safe to be snooping around people’s window’s looking for meter readings. Every year we hear stories about how criminals– posing as meter readers– gain entry into a home supposedly looking for meter readings. AMR systems give our customers an added measure of safety knowing that in Eden Prairie our meters are wirelessly read. With AMR, once our staff installs a meter, we typically will not need access to that home for several years. From that point on we will get all our readings without stepping foot onto the property! Note: My apologies to those people who had more than one visit during the meter change-out process. We had some issues with a third party installer that was hired in an effort to save time and money. What can I say? Sometimes you get exactly what you pay for. That contractor was of courselet go and City Staff took over all change-outs.
- Revenue: By the time a City is considering an AMR system the existing meters are usually outdated and running slow. Several studies show that meters in the 10-15 year range operate at 80% efficiency. That means for every dollar of water used we were only collecting .80 cents! Now, I understand we are a “not for profit entity” but we still need dollars to run the business that is water. There is no greater satisfaction than increasing margins by employing good old fashion bootstrapping!
- No more Spiders: Crawling around with a flashlight in my mouth while brushing away spider webs every bit as strong as dental floss creeps me out!
- Shortened reading cycle: AMR gives us the option to shorten the reading cycle (i.e. monthly billing). Mind you, this initiative would take considerably more resources than we have at the moment: but it is nice to have the option. Lets face it a 30.00 monthly bill is easier to handle than a 90.00 quarterly bill. An additional benefit is that we can use the bills to communicate important information– like conservation efforts.
- Upgradable: Because of some good choices as to which AMR technology Eden Prairie would invest in we have been able to grow lock step with certain advances in AMR technology. For instance: The ERTs (end point radio transmitters) that are currently being installed have a battery life equal to the life expectancy of most meters. When it comes time to replace the battery it will be time to replace the meter.
- Conservation: With Eden Prairie still growing, our water supplies shrinking, and regulatory bodies insisting that a City be accountable for every gallon of water produced (and disposed) the job of running a water/sewer utility is getting tougher. Who would of thought that AMR technology and the little old water meter would play a key role in meeting these new challenges? Eden Prairie did! Simply put, an AMR system enables us to more accurately track where the water is going. When the data shows that a certain area, or individual customer, has abnormally high readings, we can send someone to find out exactly what is going on. Many times, the high usage is a leak that the customer was unaware of. A trained Meter-Tech can then take steps to lessen excessive usage by (deep breath) retrofitting, repairing, reprogramming, educating, regulating or offering conservation incentives. One more thing, we will soon be joining other Cities that will use the AMR system to catch sprinkling violators. A bit Orwellian I know; but our/your wells are dangerously close to sucking nothing but air. Scares me more than spiders!
And finally (David Letterman top ten drum-roll) the number one benefit of an AMR system (but is numbered ten)
- Did I mention no more spiders? Those big brown ones (?) you know the ones (?) they’re very fast and flit around just out of sight. They look remarkably similar to the poisonous “Fiddle Back” aka the “Brown Recluse.” Just got one last thing to say: “Goodbye, my furry eight-legged friends!”
Well there you have it, my top 10 benefits of wireless AMR systems.
PS: Did you know you are three times more likely to be killed by a flying Champagne cork than you are to be killed by the bite of a venomous spider? Heard that from the Science Channel. Somehow I do not feel any better!
A City Employee for 16 years Andrew was born and raised in Eden Prairie. Andrew works as a Meter Tech in the Utilities Division asullivan@edenprairie.org Andrew also spent 5 years in the tech sector during the height of the internet boom and has a truck load of worthless company stock options to prove it!
