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Plano says radio transmission units on 87,000 water meters malfunctioned; billing unaffected
Summary
City staff reported that the radio transmission units attached to about 87,000 Plano water meters stopped sending readings; customers’ bills will not change while the city uses 15 contract meter readers for monthly manual reads as the cause is investigated.
Steve Solar, a city staff member, told residents that radio transmission units attached to Plano water meters have stopped sending readings, affecting about 87,000 meters.
"The meters are working properly. The problem is with this gray box which is attached to the meter," Solar said, referring to the transmission unit. He said the units transmit readings electronically and that about 90% of those units "are no longer working."
Solar said the malfunction will not change customer bills but will change how the city gathers usage data. "It will not affect your water bill. It will only change how the city gathers information," he said. Because of the failure, the city has hired 15 contract meter readers and will take monthly manual readings. "It usually takes them less than 1 minute to read each meter," Solar said.
Solar warned that hourly usage data previously available through the customer utility service portal will in most cases no longer be available while the problem persists. He said the issue is under investigation and added that "the city is trying to recoup the costs associated with the malfunction."
The briefing concluded with a community-engagement sign-off: "We'll see you soon for another Stoler on the Street," Solar said. The city did not provide a timetable for restoring the transmission units or detail the source of the failure during the remarks.
