Town launches upgraded utility customer portal with smart‑meter data and leak alerts

The Town of Danvers presented its upgraded utility customer portal to the Select Board on May 20, describing new features intended to give residents more information and self‑service options for water, sewer and electric accounts.

Angelica Medina, business manager for the Department of Public Works, said the portal — which went live April 29 — offers a live bill presentation, smart‑meter interval data, downloadable usage reports, customizable usage alerts, and the ability to link multiple utility accounts under a single login for landlords and property managers. Medina said the portal is mobile friendly and that mobile apps are planned in the coming months.

Medina highlighted a daily usage tab that shows nearly real‑time meter interval data and a graphical usage tool that can overlay weather and user‑entered events (for example, a heat‑pump installation or a pool fill) to help customers correlate consumption with activities. “This upgrade is all about making things more transparent and accessible for our customers,” Medina said.

The town sent emails and mailed letters to customers before go‑live, Medina said, and asked existing paperless and auto‑pay customers to re‑register. To ease the transition, the business division will not apply prompt payment discount reversals during May to give customers time to re‑enroll.

Select Board members asked whether the portal can proactively notify customers about unusual usage. Medina said customers can set threshold alerts now and that the town plans to add automatic leak detection that will send texts, calls or emails by the end of the calendar year. Enrollment rates reported at the meeting were roughly 15 percent for water/sewer accounts and 18 percent for electric accounts.