Laserfiche WebLink
Elk River <br /> Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING <br /> TO: FROM: <br /> ERMU Commission Tom Sagstetter—Conservation and Key Accounts Manager <br /> MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER: <br /> February 12, 2019 4.1 <br /> SUBJECT: <br /> Customer Requested Manual Meter Reading <br /> ACTION REQUESTED: <br /> Approve the revised Service Policies Policy and amended 2019 Fee Schedule. <br /> BACKGROUND: <br /> ERMU staff met with a customer in August 2018 to discuss their concerns about the wireless <br /> communications that are required by the Automated Meter Reading (AMR) equipment.The <br /> AMR equipment is used to transmit their monthly water usage information from inside the <br /> building to a vehicle fitted with a radio receiver(collector).The customer was very interested in <br /> eliminating any radio frequency transmissions from inside their home. <br /> DISCUSSION: <br /> Based on the customer's requests, ERMU staff began evaluating options for customers <br /> requesting to have meters that are not equipped with AMR. The AMR meters use a radio signal <br /> to transmit relevant electric and water data for billing purposes to a specially equipped vehicle. <br /> If the meter does not have a transmitter or the transmitter is deactivated,the meters will have <br /> to manually be retrieved by a meter technician. <br /> In response to a customer request and a growing trend in the industry, ERMU explored the <br /> possibility and costs associated with converting to meter(s)that do not utilize radio signals to <br /> communicate information back to the data collector for the billing information system. ERMU <br /> staff has evaluated and determined that manual meter reading for electric and water meter(s) <br /> could be provided as long as the requesting customer pays the additional costs for the metering <br /> equipment and the monthly manual meter reading fee per the ERMU fee schedule. <br /> The customer requesting the manual meter reading option would be required to pay 100%of <br /> the incremental costs, including but not limited to: time and materials; electrical and plumbing <br /> contractors; landscapers; carpenters; and irrigation installers.The customer would also pay a <br /> manual meter reading fee per the ERMU Fee Schedule for both the electric service and the <br /> water service, if applicable. <br /> ATTACHMENTS: <br /> • Revised - ERMU Policy—A.1—Service Policies Policy <br /> • Amended - ERMU Policy—T.1—2019 ERMU Fee Schedule <br /> Page 1 of 1 <br /> 34 <br />