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Vendor outlines benefits of AMI metering; board tables decision for further review
Summary
A vendor presentation described how fixed-network AMI would bring near-real-time hourly electric and water data, improve outage mapping and customer service tools; the board discussed costs and voted to table the decision pending further review.
A vendor representative told the Eldridge City Utility Board that switching from the current mobile radio meter-reading system to a fixed-network advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) would let the utility collect hourly interval data and surface near-real-time readings to head-end software. Steve Brush, an Itron distributor working with the vendor, said the system would let staff see outages and voltage irregularities faster and identify whether an outage is isolated or system-wide.
"We're looking at hourly interval collection of data and then having that being brought back to the head-end software," Brush said, describing the proposed Tanalyst/Itron migration path. He told the board the AMI platform would reduce the need for field meter-reading visits, allow staff to pick up final or special reads remotely, and provide mapping and alerts that can speed outage response.
Brush also described migration logistics: an initial deployment would replace roughly 170 electric meters to create the mesh network while the utility's total electric meter count is about 3,000. He said that remaining meters would continue to be read through the network initially and could be standardized over time.
Board members asked about optional modules and customer-facing features. Brush said a customer portal is available as an add-on so customers could view hourly usage, and that residential demand metering functionality could be enabled later as a community-wide module (the vendor estimated a one-time activation cost of about $9,000 for that modular capability). He confirmed the system can support remote connect/disconnect at selected meters and can read both electric and water endpoints through common gateways.
During the budget discussion, staff referenced proposal line items of roughly $135,000 for water and $187,000 for electric in the packet. Multiple board members said they wanted more time to examine packet materials and budget impacts before committing to the project.
After vendor questions and board discussion, Hamilton moved to table consideration of the AMI project to allow more time for review; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The vendor left contact information and offered to return for a follow-up presentation if the board requests one.
