Current Meter Reading System

1. Current Meter Reading System • Installed 1996-97, Expected life 12 to 15yrs • Vendor: Sensus • Reading Guns must touch the meter. • Reading Guns 15 years old April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

2. Current System Problems • 15 years old • Labor intensive readings and billing process • Infrequent Readings - Abatements • Missing management data: • Meter history, service information, install date • Type of service • Size of service • Contacts April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

3. Proposed New System • One-way Fixed Network System • Four readings daily • Receiver at the water tank site • Automated billing for closing. • Safe: Extremely Low RF energy, 0.15 sec/transmission • ROI: Strong Return on Investment • Secure: signal is encrypted, short and burst signals. • Private: Separate server, not connected to the internet. April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

4. Return on Investment April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

5. Improvements • Daily readings = lower labor requirements • Improves Data accuracy for Town and customer • Improves Conservation • Improves Water Accountability – DEP mandate April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

6. Advantages: Daily Readings • Assist in leak detection • For the customer • For the system as a whole (daily pumped vs daily use) • Reports abnormal readings • Real time readings – service on and off • Water ban violations • Meter tampering • Time of day and seasonal consumption prediction April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

7. Advantages: Lowers Labor Costs • Eliminates travel and labor for manual meter reads • No Manual Reads when service changes • Better information, less management time. • Faster bill processing, fewer manual bills • Real-time information to resolve billing issues April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

8. Other Communities • Acushnet, Boston, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Chelsea, Cumberland RI, Danvers, Framingham, Hopkinton, Kennebunkport ME, Medford, Medway, Nantucket, Norfolk, Norwood, Portsmouth NH, Salem, Somerville, Walpole, Westfield, Woburn and Yarmouth. • Lawrence, Newton, and Waltham, in progress April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System

9. Summary • Improves Customer Service • Improves management of our water system • Increases systems flexibility • Eliminates wasted effort • Saves money for customers April 2012 Town Meeting - Fixed Network System