LEBANON — The city will begin installing automated electric and water meters on homes later this year at a cost of $2 million.
The new automated meters will be able to continuously collect and process data about electric and water meter reading, replacing the traditional meters that have to be manually checked monthly on a door-to-door basis.
City Council approved the switch Tuesday night.
Deputy city manager Scott Brunka pushed for the changeover, saying that the switch would ultimately save the city millions in “lost” utilities because the new meters are more efficient.
The devices also will benefit the customer, Brunka said, because customers will be able to check their utility usage in real time via a website being set up by the meter reading company. This will allow customers to more carefully monitor their electric and water usage and become aware if they have a leak on their property.
Brunka said the city spends $132,000 a year on contract labor to perform manual meter readings. The city also loses approximately $109,000 on inaccurate water meter readings and $120,000 on inaccurate electric meter readings.
Based on those expenses, Brunka said the city will recoup its $2 million investment by 2019, and have saved more than $2 million by 2024.
A pilot project to test the system will be conducted along Columbus Avenue, north of Monroe starting in July. Customers in the pilot system will be informed of their participation via a mailing. If the test proves successful, the city will begin installing meters throughout the city beginning in the fall, with an aim to complete installation by spring 2012.
Mayor Amy Brewer said automated meter readings had been a long term goal of hers and felt they would be more cost effective to customers.
“This is a more proactive method for the city to use technology in the way it should be used,” Brewer said. “We had looked at this technology in the past and didn’t think it was sufficient at that time, but now we’re seeing it ready to go.”
Brewer said she believed it would help make the overall operation of the electric and water departments more efficient.
Councilman Matt Rodriguez said he believed the attempt to save money was “well intentioned” but was worried the new technology was too much of a gamble.
“Will it work? Is it valid? Nobody knows.” Rodriguez said. “If it works the meter will pay for itself, but it’s a heck of a gamble.”
Rodriguez said he also felt the city had already sunk too much money into its merger with the GCWW, which he opposed from the outset, and didn’t want to spend more on the water meters.