The Manchester Board of Water Commissioners voted to enter a contract with TySales for the Neptune 360 metering platform and its annual maintenance after a vendor presentation on Aug. 28, 2025.

The vote followed a 45‑minute presentation by TySales staff, who described options to move Manchester from its current automated meter reading (AMR) system to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) configuration. TySales recommended immediate adoption of the Neptune 360 platform for software support and showed results of a propagation study that found one nearby tower could collect roughly 70–72% of meter reads with a single collector antenna.

The Neptune 360 software will be used to ingest, display and analyze reads whether data arrive via fixed collectors (gateways) or cellular endpoints, the vendor said. TySales staff described two primary collection approaches: a collector-based AMI network that listens for existing RF endpoints, and cellular endpoints that push reads over public cellular networks. The vendor estimated a collector installation to cost roughly $35,000 (warrantied and service-supported on a long‑term basis) and said cellular endpoints cost about $11 per meter per year. TySales showed a model in which a single high‑elevation collector could pick up roughly 26,000 reads (about 70–72% coverage) and that a full buildout of 9–10 collectors could approach roughly 95% coverage; the company also described mixed strategies in which a few collectors are paired with targeted cellular endpoints for remote meters.

Commission discussion focused on cost, coverage and operations. Commissioners and staff asked about: where collectors might be sited (TySales identified a high site on Oak Hill / a Crown Castle tower as a high‑performing location), whether the city or TySales would own tower hardware, maintenance plans, warranty/proration, and how software subscription and meter counts would be charged. The vendor said the collector warranty and service life are commonly treated as a long‑term investment (the vendor referenced a 20‑year service expectation with prorated components) and that TySales can support both installation and on‑going maintenance. The vendor also noted that municipal customers can phase installation (installing the single high‑value collector first and using that performance data to choose additional sites).

Board members and staff emphasized that the software purchase is necessary even if the city delays installing collectors, because the current meter software is no longer supported and staff need a system that will integrate with the city's new billing platform (Munis) for parallel billing and migration work. TySales said Neptune 360 integrates with modern billing systems and that its support team can assist with configuration and troubleshooting.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Trombley moved and Commissioner Brown seconded a motion to enter into an agreement for Neptune 360 software and a maintenance contract with TySales. The board chair called the voice vote; the chair announced that the motion carried.

TySales presenters at the meeting included Dave Harris (territory manager), Sam Caballero (assistant territory manager), Nathan Cash and Ben Silva. Commission and staff participants who asked substantive questions included President Hamor, Commissioners Tremblay, Farnell, Brown, Hayworth, Cornell and Trombley, and Director Mia (utility director).