Four Key Metering Trends to Help Water Utilities Get 'Smarter' in '16

摘要

Looking back on 2015, severe droughts, flat budgets and insights on decreased reading system life have all affected the way water utility managers make decisions about metering systems. As utilities plan for 2016, managers should consider four key water metering technology trends predicted to help utilities meet their water management initiatives in 2016 and beyond. Future-Proof Cellular Technology: A 2015 sponsored study completed by industry expert Dr. Howard Scott, PhD, revealed that water utilities change their AMR/AMI meter reading systems at an average age of 8.2 years - far more frequently than the equipment's 20-year life expectancy. As meter reading communications technology and analytics systems have rapidly evolved (and continue to do so), it makes sense that water utilities have been changing their systems to keep pace with advancing technology as well as operational and customer needs. However, when a utility budgets for an upgrade every 20 years, being forced to update more frequently presses already stretched budgets even further.