Utilities director shows council how automatic meters improve leak detection and billing

The Janesville Utilities Department presented an update on the city’s automated meter reading system to the Common Council on Jan. 13.

Utilities Director Dave Botts, joined by Water Supervisor Craig Diesenhuizen, explained the system’s components — meters, transmitters and roadside collectors — and said the city has about 24,000 meters of various sizes in service. City crews are replacing older transmitters ("model 60s") with newer "model 100" units that permit more frequent reads. The newer devices support hourly—or finer—reporting; older units typically report only once per day.

Botts demonstrated the dashboard used by staff, showing daily and hourly usage graphs for individual addresses and explaining how sustained consistent flow patterns can trigger possible-leak notifications. The department emails reports identifying properties with suspected leaks so staff can notify owners or dispatch crews. Botts said a customer portal that would allow residents to view their own usage would require a software upgrade estimated in “the five-figure” range and is a candidate for the 2026 or 2027 budget.

Botts also noted business uses for fine-grained metering data and described routine meter-change procedures, including curb-box and meter-horn work. Council members asked no follow-up policy questions during the presentation; Botts offered to answer future questions or provide demonstrations.