AWWA IMTECH64724

This paper discusses the experience that the City of North Las Vegas had with selecting and installing an automated meter reading (AMR) system. The first experience that North Las Vegas had installing a Unix AMR system in 1996-1997 failed completely and the lessons learned from that experience were applied to a subsequent experience beginning in 2000 when the Utilities Department began field testing several different brands of AMR systems. The lessons learned from the first experience included: a complex system needs to be completely researched; the company providing the system needs to be researched; the research must evaluate the available products that meet the needs of the City; the project needs to be planned with an established budget; and, field-testing of the selected systems is needed prior to proceeding. The AMR plan was to convert the existing 53,000 meters to AMR meters at an equipment and materials cost of $10,000,000 over 5 years. Of the 53,000 meters, approximately 49,000 were single-family residential 5/8 by 3/4 inch meters and 4,000 were 1 inch and larger meters with approximately 300 large meters in vaults. The paper provides a table of the installation schedule. As of January 2007, the City has converted 40,950 meters to AMR meters, leaving another 40,160 meters remaining for conversion. A refined list of lessons learned includes: have a plan and change the plan, be flexible; keep up with the state of the art technology, 2 AMR systems can work; involve your Information Technology department; identify the data you need; keep installation records, especially productivity data and installation costs; start with all the equipment needed including one backup for each due to unexpected failures; determine how you can get GPS points for each meter; never go live with new or updated software without fully testing it; know the limitations of the system; and, don't forget that your AMR reader will have to also read by hand the area where the installation crew is working. Includes tables, figures.