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Media Release Release Date: May 14, 2002 Rosann Doran
City and County of Broomfield Public
Information Office
One DesCombes Drive
·
Broomfield,
CO 80020 · (303) 438-6308
Contacts:
Public Information Officer
303.438.6308
New water meters, radio units to be installed
On May 20, Broomfield will begin upgrading its water meters to permit Automatic Meter Reading (AMR). Workers will be replacing the water meters so they can be read more efficiently.
About 6,000 meters will be retrofitted. Automated Systems Solutions, Broomfield’s contractor on the project, will replace the meters and install radio read units that allow remote reading of the meters. The company expects to be completed by fall.
The new devices are the same kind now being used by Xcel Energy to read electric and gas meters. This work is being done at no cost to residents.
Automated System Solutions installers will be clearly identified with distinctive uniforms and identification cards. Anyone with questions about the identity of an installer may call the Broomfield Utility Division at 303-438-6334.
Water meters are located inside homes, so the work must be done when a responsible adult is present to admit the installer. The installer will need full access to the water meter, the piping and valves on both sides of the meter. In order to perform the necessary work, water service at each location will be interrupted for 15 minutes or less.
The AMR device, a 4-inch square box containing a radio unit, will be mounted directly on the water meter. Once the radio device is mounted, it must not be relocated, except by a
service technician, to assure the radio signal can be read from outside. Although city staff will be reading meters from the street, they will need access to the device every few years to test it and to change the battery.
When the installers are ready to begin work in each neighborhood, residents in the area will be contacted to make arrangements for access to the meter. If it is convenient, the conversion can be made immediately. To accelerate completion of the project, techs will also be making "cold calls" to residents in areas where they are working to see if anyone is home so they can complete the work.
Otherwise, residents will be given instructions to contact the installation contractor at 303-367-4473. To accommodate residents’ busy schedules, installers will be working week days, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information about Automatic Meter Reading and the conversion project, residents may visit the Broomfield Web site at http://www.ci.broomfield.co.us.