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Phenix City council authorizes $3.35 million advanced metering infrastructure contract
Summary
Phenix City authorized a master project agreement for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system with Phase 2 pricing of $3,353,794.70; staff said crews should be on the ground within about six months and that the new meters will allow more accurate readings and remote service control.
Phenix City Council on Tuesday authorized a master project agreement for an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system, approving Phase 2 pricing of $3,353,794.70 for materials, equipment, installation and related services.
The council heard a staff presentation describing the Core & Main Phase 2 pricing and standard contract provisions, including payment terms requiring the city to pay within 30 days of invoice. "Phase 2 pricing in the amount of $3,353,794.70 which includes all materials, equipment, installation labor and related services for phase 2 of the project payment," a utilities representative read during the presentation (speaker 9).
During council questions, a utilities staff member (speaker 6) said the contractor should be on site within about six months after contract execution. "So we we expect after the execution of the contract that Core & Main will be on the ground within 6 months of that date," the staff member said. The staff member told the council the system would improve operational efficiency, allow certain customers to be remotely disconnected and reconnected, and provide more accurate meter readings.
Council members were also told that the new meters will be more sensitive and could show increased usage relative to older equipment; staff cautioned that accuracy improvements may reveal higher readings for some customers. The staff presentation included specifics on invoicing cadence (materials invoiced as delivered; installation invoiced weekly at most) and standard contractual clauses such as indemnification, insurance and compliance requirements.
The council moved the agreement forward in the meeting agenda and endorsed authorizing the mayor and city manager to execute the master project agreement. No specific vote tally was recorded in the transcript readback for this item; the motion proceeded as part of the consent/administrative resolutions.
The AMI procurement is a high-dollar, multi-year infrastructure investment intended to modernize the city's metering and billing operations. Staff said the system aligns with recent utility rate adjustments and is expected to reduce some manual work and improve leak detection and service response times.
