UTILITY METER READING

As part of an Automated Meter Reading/Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMR/AMI) solution, cities can move away from manual utility meter reading or drive-by solutions to digital meters that link wirelessly to a central network - saving time and cost while improving customer service and ability to accurately monitor and control valuable resources.

• Lower operating costs - Fewer personnel required in the field, lowering transportation, insurance, and medical costs. Detailed data uncovers problems quickly and reduces fraud.
• Encourage conservation - Customers can see their usage at any time, helping conservation efforts, and quickly detecting water leaks or faulty thermostats so corrective action can be quickly taken.
• Improve customer service and satisfaction - Utilities can pinpoint system problems - leaks or outages - before customers report them, reducing downtime.
• Reduce customer complaints - High-quality, real-time data increases billing accuracy, eliminating estimated bills, and unpleasant surprises for customers.

High-speed wireless broadband access with Tropos and its MetroMesh Solution partners are being used to centralize meter reading, achieve significant cost savings and meet conservation goals. Some examples include:

• Corpus Christi, Texas expects to save $30 million over the next 20 years with their AMR system for gas and water
• Anderson, Indiana expects to save $18 million over the next 15 years with their AMR/AMI system
• Burbank, California has completed an assessment phase and is installing a pilot program to create a smart electrical grid which is targeted at reducing peak load and response time to address outages