What’s AMR?
AMR stands for Automatic Meter Reading. Many utilities are using AMR as a way of improving customer service while reducing the cost of reading meters. Because the AMR system will greatly reduce our meter reading and meter maintenance costs, the system will pay for itself very quickly, so there will be no charge to existing customers and no rate increase to cover the cost of the project. O’Fallon Water has chosen an AMR system that uses miniature radio transmitters attached to the water meter. We will be able to collect the readings from handheld radio receivers and from moving vehicles. With this process, one driver in a truck will be able to read more meters in one day than our current staff of meter readers. And there won’t be nearly as many problems from snow and meters that are hard to get to.
How does the system work?
The key to the system is a device called an ERT – Encoder-Receiver-Transmitter. This device is connected directly to a special electronic register on the water meter. Normally, the ERT does nothing – it “sleeps,” waiting for the meter reader to approach.
The meter reader’s handheld or truck-mounted reading device sends out a continuous “wake up” signal. When an ERT receives O’Fallon Water’s wake up signal, it checks the reading on the meter register, encodes it into a digital signal, and begins transmitting its identification number and the current reading. After a few minutes, the ERT stops transmitting and goes back “to sleep,” waiting for the next time we need a meter reading. The handheld device or truck-mounted computer system matches the ERT identification number with your property and records the reading. At the end of the day, the meter reader unloads the information to our billing system.
So I’ll never see O’Fallon Water again?
No, that’s not quite right. Every few years, a O’Fallon Water field service representative will need to change the battery in your ERT. And we might need to service the ERT or the meter if it isn’t working properly. But you won’t see a meter reader walking down your street.
My ERT’s installed… Now what?
For the time being, the only change is that the meter reader won’t be coming by to look at the meter any more. You’ll still get your bill on the same schedule as before. Things will be just about the same as they’ve been before. In about ten years, an O’Fallon Water field service representative will come by to change the battery in the ERT. For indoor ERT installations, that may mean making an appointment to get in the house.
If you have a pit ERT mounted on the meter pit lid in your yard or driveway, be careful not to run over it with a lawn mower or snow blower. Don’t bury the ERT or the meter pit, and don’t place objects on top of the ERT. We will still need access to your meter and ERT from time-to-time, and objects on the ERT may interfere with radio transmission. If the ERT is damaged, we’ll have to replace it at your expense.
If you do any landscaping around the meter pit it may need to be adjusted to a new grade. Since O’Fallon Water’s employees won’t be looking at the meter pit every two months, you will have to be sure everything is in good condition. If you have any questions about your meter pit, call our Public Works Department at 618 624-4500 Ext. 5.
Taking care of a Remote ERT
If you have a Remote ERT attached to your indoor meter, the most important thing is to leave it alone. If you decide to finish or remodel the area where the ERT is located, please call O’Fallon Water at 618 624-4500 Ext. 1. Arrange to meet with a field service representative who can explain how much room we need to work on your meter and ERT or who can relocate the ERT as necessary. If new wires need to be run, there may be a charge for this, but we’ll try to accommodate your needs.
Please do not box these devices in or place them behind plaster walls, and please do not paint them – we will need to inspect and service the meter and ERT every few years, so you must keep them accessible. You should also be careful not to damage the wire from the meter to the ERT. If we receive a “broken cable” alert from the ERT, we will have to replace the wire at your expense.
If you ever have any questions about your ERT, please call O’Fallon Water’s customer representatives at 618 624-4500 Ext. 1. If the phone representative cannot answer your question, we’ll send a field representative to meet with you.
What about my outside remote?
Many indoor meters were equipped with outside remote units so we could get a meter reading without entering the building. Many customers with those units installed also know that they often failed to accurately display the meter readings – they took a lot of work to maintain, and we often had to enter the building anyway just to check them.
If you have a remote on the outside of your building, we marked it Out of Service when we installed the ERT. You may remove this device at any time and discard it.
If you have any questions about AMR, call O’Fallon Water’s Customer Service line at 618 624-4500 Ext.1.
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