Laserfiche WebLink
BACKGROUND <br /> Automated Water Meter Infrastructure (AMI) technology is the latest in the evolution of <br /> meter reading technology from the original manual read technology which the City utilizes <br /> today. The City started pilot testing emerging AMI technologies beginning in 2011, and <br /> piloted a total of five technologies. The Aclara brand was the only technology which <br /> provided a 100% read rate accompanied with100% read accuracy 100% of the time. <br /> Additionally, Honeywell, who was engaged by the City under a performance management <br /> contract in 2012, also identified Aclara as the preferred AMI technology alternative <br /> through their individual research and testing. <br /> The City of Pleasanton is installing new water meters and automating its meter reading <br /> capabilities through the AMI CIP project. This project will directly enhance operational <br /> efficiencies in meter reading, customer service, billing, and overall water resource <br /> management. Of equal importance, associated benefits will be passed on to the City's <br /> water customers, empowering them to better manage their water usage. <br /> The City's current metering infrastructure is older and is now experiencing compromised <br /> metering accuracies, which is typical and inherent of aging mechanical meters in need of <br /> replacement.Almost every meter in the City will be replaced with 20-year non-mechanical <br /> (ultrasound and magnetic technologies) meters as part of this project. Every meter will be <br /> outfitted with a low-power communication device which will transmit hourly usage data <br /> through new composite meter pit lids to sixteen (16) hosted Data Collection Units (DCUs) <br /> strategically located throughout the City. The hosted DCUs will in turn send the data <br /> through a hosted cloud-based control computer to the City's Utility Billing (UB) center, all <br /> over a secure licensed and hosted network. The data received by UB will not only feed <br /> the billing process, but will also be pushed through to the City's water customers through <br /> an interactive Customer Portal which can be accessed 24/7 on any computer or smart <br /> device. <br /> With its ability to inform customers in real time, the adaptation of the AMI project is key to <br /> water resources (drought/conservation) management. The City's current meter reading <br /> format obtains one read every two months per service connection. One data point in a <br /> two month period does not support the water analytics best serving to the City's <br /> conservation goals. <br /> The AMI project is sustainable green technology which will take current meter reading <br /> vehicles off the road and will increase data accuracy alleviating extra vehicle miles <br /> currently required for field data audit and verification. Customer Service Representatives <br /> currently reading meters will be repurposed to other meter related activities in order to <br /> relieve utilities operations staff of the burden of meter field service requests. <br /> As part of ongoing public outreach, City staff has already provided presentations and <br /> workshop opportunities to the Committee on Energy and the Environment on January <br /> 27th, Leadership Pleasanton on April 13th, and the Pleasanton Economic Vitality <br /> Committee on April 21St. The AMI project was presented to the Committee on Energy and <br /> Page 2 of 4 <br />