PITTSBURGH, PA - August 31, 2007
Increased customer service, minimal infrastructure requirements, and lower life-cycle costs are three primary benefits that officials of West View Water Authority (WVWA) say they will gain from the new meter data collection system they purchased from Sensus Metering Systems through local distributor L/B Water Service.
Located just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, West View consists of both urban and suburban environments, which include hilly terrains that pose geographical meter reading challenges. But Sensus’ FlexNet system enabled Authority officials to purchase this state-of-the-art data collection system without having to buy a large infrastructure to cover its 100-square-mile territory. WVWA will install about 53,000 end points utilizing the patented FlexNet system, an RF (radio frequency) wireless fixed base system. The single-tiered FlexNet architecture and FlexNet’s primary use license system that provides 2 watts of power, allows for greater transmitter range from minimal infrastructure, which in turn is lowering operating costs.
“Sensus caught our attention when its system required a smaller infrastructure than other options, and had the lowest life cycle cost,” says Daniel J. Dannenmueller, West View Water Authority Service Superintendent. “When you couple those lower costs and with the addition of hourly reads, which will enhance our customer service, it became obvious that Sensus was the best solution for our Authority.”
Dannenmueller explained that the Sensus infrastructure required about 10-times fewer collectors than others who presented in the competitive bidding process. And, when Authority officials put an emphasis on how much each bidder’s system would cost for ongoing maintenance, FlexNet again jumped to the forefront.
“This is a system that will be up and running for more than two decades, and we needed to know, now, what our ongoing costs would be to support the system we would choose. Through our evaluation, we determined that Sensus’ FlexNet system provided the most economical life-cycle cost for the project.”
The FlexNet system also allows the Authority to capture hourly reads. WVWA previously did quarterly, estimated reads. The enhanced system will collect actual usage rates, and also will save customers unnecessary costs by detecting leaks or problems in the field almost immediately.
About FlexNet
FlexNet is a simple, reliable and flexible RF fixed network utility meter reading system, which is designed to increase meter reading efficiency, reduce overhead costs, and enhance customer service. FlexNet offers both two-way and one-way fixed-based monitoring for both urban and rural areas. The primary licensed system and high powered transmitters provide the most robust system available in the market. In addition, the system is designed to be scalable to accommodate growth as a utility expands the meter deployments throughout its service territory.
About Sensus Metering Systems
The Sensus Metering Systems companies are leading world-class providers of water, gas, heat and electric meters including comprehensive metering communications system solutions that comprise both automatic meter reading (“AMR”) and advanced metering infrastructure (“AMI”) systems. Additional linked businesses include Smith-Blair, Inc. a leading provider of pipe clamp & coupling products for the water, gas, and industrial markets; and Sensus Precision Die Casting a producer of complex, high quality die castings.
Issued 8/31/2007
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