Case Study. Madison Water Utility s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project

Transcription

1 Case Study Madison Water Utility s Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Project

2 Outline Project Planning and Preparation Implementation Real World Benefits Looking Ahead

3 PROJECT PLANNING

4 The before state Badger disc meters Read-o-Matic remote registers Manually read and billed semiannually Average 6 month residential bill ~$300 (including water, sewer, and storm/landfill)

5 Our vision Improved Cash Flow Industry Leader Improved Customer Service Enhanced Data Management Improved Resource Management

6 Key objectives Move from 6 month billing cycle to monthly Maintain accurate bills Improve water accountability (base 9% loss) Conserve water resources (reduce per capita consumption 20% over 10 years) Provide hourly water consumption data to improve customer service

7 Other benefits Customer leak detection System leak detection Reduced vehicle emissions Water conservation rate structures Improved workforce efficiency Deferred water supply additions Backflow detection

8 Advanced Metering Infrastructure

9 Scope 65,000 customers 90% retrofit by contractor 10% meter replacement in-house with solid state technology Switch to monthly billing Convert to gallons from CCF Meter Data Management system to integrate with SCADA, GIS, etc. Budget: $14M

10 Original project timeline 2010 Budget Approval 2012 Project Implementation 2011 RFP Process/Vendor Selection

11 A few bumps early on PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

12 An unexpected hiccup October 2010 Mayoral race begins, incumbent Mayor pulls the AMI project from budget

13 AMI becomes Project website Video explanation FAQs Detailed equipment specs Project timeline Media coverage

14 A missed opportunity Invited all neighboring Dane County jurisdictions to participate Hosted an informational meeting to discuss ways of partnering for mutual benefit In the end, only Fitchburg played ball

15 RF and privacy concerns

16 The facts The radio transmitters use about 0.5 watts ¼ the power of a cell phone A transmission lasts about 10 milliseconds Inverse Square Law Batteries last 20 years!

17

18 The opt out saga Second project status briefing for Madison Common Council June 19, 2012 Routine pole use agreement also on agenda Anti s show up in force Council asks for Opt Out Staff works with citizen group and PSC to develop policy Opt Out Tariff approved November 1, 2012

19 The opt-out tariff Option 1 Outside mount installation One-time fee of $50.69 Option 2 No radio transmitter on property Monthly fee of $7.78* * Equates to a voluntary rate increase of 36%

20 Appointment process Letter to customer to call and schedule Cold calls and door hangers Urgent 10-day notice from Corix Utilities Returned to Utility

21 Disconnection process Customer receives another 14-day Urgent Notice from MWU If no appointment is made, a 10-day shut off notice is mailed If meter work or Opt Out form is not completed, property is posted for shut off

22 The numbers Installations planned: 68,200 Installations completed: 67,479 Option 1 (outside mount) 1048 Option 2 (total opt out) 468 Service disconnections 68 Citations 16

23 Extreme winter provides good test REAL WORLD BENEFITS

24 Frozen pipes avoiding this! [There was a] big ice wall coming from the first and second floor. Water had just come up so high that it finally burst out the siding. They had an ice dam all the way down the side of the house. "It was probably three feet thick and five feet wide. It was one of those things like, 'Wow, this is incredible. I can't believe how much water is in this house!

25 Leak detection Meter Data Management Software provides continuous usage reports Adjustable parameters currently 3 days at 25 gph Monitored run water to avoid freeze up requests Phone call, , letters sent Found leaks up to 145 gallons per hour

26 Customers respond...thank you for your patience and compassion last Friday. You are the perfect person to handle an upset like this. I was facing something possibly very costly and urgent, both from a natural resources perspective as well as dollars. You can't imagine our relief that this was an easy fix. a relieved customer It was a pleasure talking to you and getting a better understanding of your water metering system. It helps me as a homeowner to better realize the benefits of an automated metering system. We appreciate the notification and being able to stop the excess usage. an appreciative customer I have to say as an owner of these properties I do appreciate this type of ability on your end to inform us right away of possible leaks or dripping issues. a landlord customer

27 Next steps LOOKING AHEAD

28 Coming attractions New customer self-service web portal this summer Hourly consumption data Usage alerts via , text message New e-bill and online payment options Monthly billing in September Water rate case Summer/Fall New multi-family rate class Summer season water conservation rates Water loss prevention District metering

29 QUESTIONS?