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Washington approves $7.89 million for citywide AMI smart‑meter project
Summary
The Washington City Council unanimously approved $7,889,265 to fund an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project shared across electric, water and sewer utilities after an E‑Source presentation on the system’s features and vendor options.
The Washington City Council on July 8 approved $7,889,265 to fund an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) program to replace and network city utility meters.
Council members voted to appropriate the amount — to be shared among the electric, water and sewer utilities — after a presentation by Don Rankin of E‑Source on the proposed system, its technical capabilities and vendor comparisons. City Manager Jonathan Russell told the council the appropriation will cover meters, installation, software and network costs, and staff will keep negotiating with the vendor for additional cost savings.
Why it matters: The AMI project is intended to modernize meter reads, enable demand‑response features, and give customers online access to usage data. Rankin said Ferguson’s Water Works (the vendor discussed during the presentation) offers demand response devices and that Beaufort County has used the system for about 10 years; he estimated a roughly two‑year buildout and said city staff would maintain the meters.
Council action and votes: The motion to approve funding was made by Councilmember Richard Brooks and seconded by Councilmember Antwan Horton. Recorded votes show Mayor Pro tem Anthony Tyre, Councilmembers Brooks, Horton and William Pitt voting yes; Councilmember Lou Hodges was absent.
What’s next: Staff will continue vendor negotiations and proceed with procurement and implementation steps under the approved appropriation. The council did not set a separate implementation timeline beyond the presentation estimate of about two years.
Sources: Presentation by Don Rankin (E‑Source) and staff memorandum presented by City Manager Jonathan Russell; council vote at the July 8, 2024 meeting.
