Raleigh, NC, March 23, 2009 – With an eye on achieving operational efficiency in both data collection and customer service, California's Foster City public works officials have chosen FlexNet, by Sensus, as their Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system.
Foster City is located in California's San Francisco Bay Area, and is a densely populated city, with areas of both residential and commercial development. Some 8,500 customers in the 4.5 square mile territory are serviced by just one Tower Gateway Base station (TGB), placed at the center of town, atop City Hall.
In addition to the deployment of the AMI system, the city is initiating a meter replacement program at the same time, upgrading Sensus TouchRead meters that are reaching the end of their 20-year life cycle. So far, about 1,700 meters throughout the service area have been fitted with the FlexNet SmartPoints with excellent success.
The Sensus FlexNet system operates on an exclusive and FCC-protected primary-use license spectrum which guarantees the utility to receive data over protected airwaves. And, the ability to provide hourly meter readings and rapid leak alerts is also attractive to Foster City officials. The utility currently reads and bills water meters bi-monthly, but will soon have the ability to move to monthly billing if desired. This move would improve customer service while at the same time improving cash flow - a "win-win" for the city and its water customers.
Ignatius Nelson, Foster City Public Works Superintendent, said initial thoughts were to complete their drive-by meter reading system, but a review of the FlexNet system revealed it would read meters more efficiently while also offering a host of features to enhance customer service, such as prompt leak detection and hourly consumption profiling.
"We believe we are now well-positioned to achieve short- and long-term operational and customer service goals and take decisive steps in our conservation efforts," Nelson said.
Currently the city is focusing on fitting the FlexNet SmartPoints on water meters into the city's parks to help the Parks Department use water more efficiently.
For more information on the AMI system, visit www.sensus.com.
