Beverly council authorizes $7.5 million borrowing to replace 12,600 water and sewer meters

Summary

The Beverly City Council approved Order 105 on March 31, 2025, authorizing up to $7.5 million in borrowing to replace aging water and sewer meters, modernize readout technology and launch customer portals; council voted 8-0. Officials cited tariff timing, estimated rate impacts and consumer protections for large ensuing true-up bills.

The Beverly City Council on March 31 authorized up to $7,500,000 in borrowing to purchase and replace the city’s water and sewer meters and to fund related costs, voting 8-0 to approve Order 105.

City officials told the council the city must replace roughly 12,600 meters whose batteries and communications hardware are reaching end of life, and that modern meters will support remote reads, leak detection alerts and customer portals.

Eric Barber, assistant commissioner of public services, said the municipality currently relies on decades-old hardware. “There’s a battery in this device,” Barber said of the existing meters. “It communicates with a van. Keep in mind the fact that it’s a year 2,000 Astro van… the ability for this meter to communicate is slowly but surely going away.” Barber also demonstrated an older meter and a replacement model and said the newer devices are easier to install and include customer alert functions that can notify homeowners of continuous use or leaks.

Mr. Ailes, the city treasurer, told the council the order authorizes the treasurer,…

Beverly council authorizes $7.5 million borrowing to replace 12,600 water and sewer meters

Summary

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