AMI Water Meter Antenna Installation

What is AMI?

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) refers to radio-communication enabled meters that provide precise measurements and transmit data in near real time, eliminating the need for drive by readings. The meter will transmit encrypted, hourly water readings to reception towers and from there to the City and your customizable, data driven, water report. Simple. Reliable. Smart.

 

How will installation impact you?

You may notice the Public Works crew working in your meter box while they replace the antenna system. The change in the system will be seamless and will not interrupt water delivery or meter information being submitted for utility billing. You can help by ensuring your meter lid and meter box is clear of “roses”, shrubs, or other obstacles.

 

Why is the City converting water meters to AMI?

- Accurate and Real-time Data

AMI water meters provide precise measurements and transmit data in near real time, eliminating the need for drive by readings. This will continue accurate billing and facilitate prompt leak detection, reducing water waste and associated costs.

- Consumer Empowerment

In 2025 the AMI water metering system will empower residents by providing them with access to their consumption data. This information allows individuals to track their water usage, identify inefficiencies, and adopt water-saving practices, leading to reduced consumption and lower utility bills. The customer portal will be rolled out following the installation and programming of the new system.

 

When is the AMI conversion taking place?

AMI conversion will be starting in June 2023 and should be complete by 2025. Meters across the City will be grouped in geographic sections and converted sequentially during that time. Once the installation project has begun, information showing what area is undergoing active AMI conversion can be seen at washingtonterracecity.com.

 

Where are conversion funds coming from?

Over 60% of the AMI conversion cost is being covered by Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) funds with the remnant met by City funds.

 

Smart Meters = Smart Customer Portal

- What will the new portal do?

The new, web-based customer portal will allow you to track your hourly, monthly, and yearly water use, set up customizable usage threshold alerts to ping you via email or text as you near a pre-set amount, manage your account, and more. All from the convenience of your phone or other internet enabled device.

- When will the new customer portal be available?

The new customer portal will be launched for public use once meter conversion is complete Citywide, probably 2025. In the meantime, your water usage will be tracked (using AMI after installation) and billed according to the current system.

 

Will AMI protect my information?

AMI equipment does not "know" how water is used. It has no access to appliance information in the home. Like the meters currently in use, it tracks and transmits the total amount of culinary water used at a location, but gathers no information about the uses to which that water is put.

When the AMI meter sends data from your home or organization to the water utility, it is encrypted with a random, unique key. This means that only a location with the appropriate key can receive and interpret the information.

Sensus AMI meters operate on a licensed radio spectrum that is dedicated to utility applications. Sensus maintains that this method offers a number of benefits. "...no one without a license is legally allowed to transmit in the band or send their own data. As a result, it is much easier to detect and intercept attempted intrusions, as there are no other competing systems or interfering communications. Additionally, the wireless technology isn’t available for hackers to order through the internet and plug in at home, discouraging ‘casual’ intruders".

 

Are radio waves safe?

It might sound concerning to read that your new meter will beam out information on radio waves, but you are already exposed to radio frequency (RF) waves on a daily basis. Without RF technology you wouldn't be able to use Wi-Fi routers, garage door openers, or microwave ovens, not to mention cell phones and radio or TV broadcasting!

The good news is that, "digital meters transmit energy usage data using low-watt radio frequency (RF) waves that are proven to be safe and are well within the limits set by the Federal Communications Commission. Additionally, the World Health Organization has concluded that no adverse health effects have been found to result from exposure to low-level RF energy." (Rocky Mountain Power)

Then consider that the AMI meter only broadcasts periodically (totaling less than one minute for the entire day), and it does that from the park strip which is probably many feet and several walls away from where you spend your time indoors. In fact, according to Rocky Mountain Power, "the radio frequency from digital meters is so low that you could stand directly in front of one for a full year and still have less RF exposure than you’d get from a single 15-minute cell phone call. Altogether, this means that living in a house with a digital meter provides very little exposure to RF."

 

Special thanks to Rocky Mountain Power and Sensus from whom much of this information was sourced. The original documentation can be found here: www.rockymountainpower.net/my-account/energy-usage/meter-upgrade/safe-secure.html, www.sensus.com/lar/wp-content/themes/sensus/inc/webdam_download.php?asset_id=91170973