Consumer Services & Outreach
Automatic Meter Reading
AMR System Generates More Accurate Billing, Lowers Costs
In March 2002, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) began replacing traditional water meters with automated meters. It is believed that DC Water was the first water utility to implement a fixed network Automated Meter Reading (AMR) system in the United States. The system uses both radio and cell phone technology to upload data at the meter to DC Water's database twice daily.
This provided more accurate data and eliminated estimated billing. Since the data no longer needed to be read manually, it also eliminated the need for meter readers, who were then re-trained to support the system in other ways. Fuel and vehicle maintenance costs were drastically reduced.
A major objective of the program was to generate more accurate billing. New meters run more accurately than older ones. Other objectives were to:
- Reduce overall cost of service
- Replace older infrastructure
- Standardize meter inventory
- Realign business processes
The project was substantially completed in 2007 at a cost of $41 million ($2.3 million under budget). DC Water has since begun replacement of the original automated meters with next generation technology. More information can be found in the white paper below.
AMR System Enables State-of-the-art High Use/Leak Detection Program
Since the water usage (consumption) data is uploaded twice daily, DC Water for the first time had more data points per customer than simply the previous month's total. Now, when customers questioned a high water bill, Customer Service Representatives could look onscreen and determine exactly when the water use took place. DC Water took a logical next step and allowed customers to view their own usage online. Then, DC Water went one step farther and developed a unique application that identifies spikes in usage over consecutive days and automatically sends customers (who sign up for the service) an alert via email or telephone call, with instructions to look for a leak. In 2009, DC Water sent more than 3,000 alerts. Oftentimes it was the first indication that a toilet or fixture was leaking—saving the customer hundreds of dollars in a high water bill. This program is so unique that DC Water holds a copyright for it.
Download an AMR Project White Paper (PDF 1.5 mb) .
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