Discussion and possible action to approve an agreement between Webb County and Badger Meter, Inc., d/b/a National Meter & Automation in the amount of $14,145.28, to buy 16,448 automated cellular registers, as needed for the Automated Meter Infrastructure (AMI), system used by the Utilities Department. Cellular register technology systems provides automatic & accurate household water consumption information data, meter readings, a customer feedback portal, monitors real-time water consumption, and give leak site information & security technology to identify and eliminate water theft, meter tampering, and/or prohibited access of meters; and authorizing the Webb County Judge to execute any and all relevant documents and any other matters incident thereto. [Requested by Tomas Sanchez; Water Utilities Director; Account #7200-7050-001-443000-035 (Repairs & Maintenance)]
Issue: The Utilities Department had previously implemented a Badger Meter, Inc., automatic water meter reading system in both Rio Bravo and El Cenizo, and these additional cellular registers are needed to maintain the system. The use of this upgraded automated meter reading system significantly reduced the prior need to use up to 432 man hours to manually process & read the water meters. The autmoated system & technology greatly reduces keypunching results, re-reading meters and human errors. The automated system also significantly reduced staff’s exposure to hazardous field conditions, heat exposure, snake, dog, and insect bites, as well as reduced staff’s physical injuries caused by holes, terrain, and/or heat exhaustion.
Solution: New automated technology allows Webb County to monitor water meter reading remotely by using cellular service data meters, and gives provides data on consumers daily actual per household water consumption & use, detects water leaks, illegal water taps and/or consumption, and provides feedback of exactly when and how much water is used hourly at each household to enable them to monitor and track their water use.
Result: The use of this new technology has increased our revenues, saves water by significantly reducing the level of water loss and theft, & and reduces system revenue losses due to increased ability for early detection of water line leaks, meter tampering and illegal taps/connections on the system.
Automated water consumption technology system provides a much more detailed and accurate information accounting system, with increased revenue, reduction in human errors due to meter reading and/or keypunch errors, and safety for our employees and accurate metered consumption. |