MONROE - It's crunch time for Monroe Water Utility, and its operators and service personnel are willing to work into the evenings and weekends to top off the water meter replacement program.
"The end of the electronic water meter replacement program is in sight with only 1,200 meters left to replace," Colin Simpson, Monroe's Director of Public Works, reported. "We are planning to offer night and weekend appointments during a two-week stretch between Jan. 17 and Jan. 31 to try and get the last customers scheduled for replacement."
Water Utility personnel have been replacing the meters during regular, city business hours. But the property owner or an adult representative needs to be present during the hour-long replacement process. Simpson announced at a council meeting Dec. 2 that the extended appointment hours will help property owners who work during the day.
The water utility is replacing outdated, unrepairable water meters with Sensus iPERL meters for residential customers and OMN1 meters for commercial customers, both of which will be connected to the radio transmitting, Automated Meter Reading system (AMR).
Water meter replacement is a mandatory installation. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission requires utilities to replace meters within the useful lives of those meters, typically 20 years. The manufacturer has discontinued production of Monroe's current meters, and parts and service are no longer available to repair them.
But property owners are not being charged a separate cost for the installation. The project cost is paid from utility user fees and is not part of the tax levy. However, customers with deduct meters will need to purchase a new deduct meter.
By providing meter readings and reports on an as-needed basis directly to the utility offices, the new meters are expected to reduce labor costs and alert staff to water leaks. Water Utility Supervisor Mike Kennison said catching leaks more quickly will reduce the loss of water - a natural resource - and prevent massive bills. In-house readings will also greatly reduce the amount of time staff spends in the field reading meters for monthly bills and whenever a resident moves or a property is sold.
About 2,600 of the city's 4,500 old meters had been replaced by January of this year. The city council approved the three-year project, estimated at a cost of $1.3 million, in January 2012. Replacements began in July 2012.
To make an appointment for a water meter replacement, contact the Monroe Water Utility general office at 608-329-2480. According to PSC regulations, refusal or failure to permit authorized utility personnel access to the base meter could result in the utility service being disconnected or refused. More information about the Water Utility's Automated Meter Reading System is available on the city's website, cityofmonroe.org.
"The end of the electronic water meter replacement program is in sight with only 1,200 meters left to replace," Colin Simpson, Monroe's Director of Public Works, reported. "We are planning to offer night and weekend appointments during a two-week stretch between Jan. 17 and Jan. 31 to try and get the last customers scheduled for replacement."
Water Utility personnel have been replacing the meters during regular, city business hours. But the property owner or an adult representative needs to be present during the hour-long replacement process. Simpson announced at a council meeting Dec. 2 that the extended appointment hours will help property owners who work during the day.
The water utility is replacing outdated, unrepairable water meters with Sensus iPERL meters for residential customers and OMN1 meters for commercial customers, both of which will be connected to the radio transmitting, Automated Meter Reading system (AMR).
Water meter replacement is a mandatory installation. The Wisconsin Public Service Commission requires utilities to replace meters within the useful lives of those meters, typically 20 years. The manufacturer has discontinued production of Monroe's current meters, and parts and service are no longer available to repair them.
But property owners are not being charged a separate cost for the installation. The project cost is paid from utility user fees and is not part of the tax levy. However, customers with deduct meters will need to purchase a new deduct meter.
By providing meter readings and reports on an as-needed basis directly to the utility offices, the new meters are expected to reduce labor costs and alert staff to water leaks. Water Utility Supervisor Mike Kennison said catching leaks more quickly will reduce the loss of water - a natural resource - and prevent massive bills. In-house readings will also greatly reduce the amount of time staff spends in the field reading meters for monthly bills and whenever a resident moves or a property is sold.
About 2,600 of the city's 4,500 old meters had been replaced by January of this year. The city council approved the three-year project, estimated at a cost of $1.3 million, in January 2012. Replacements began in July 2012.
To make an appointment for a water meter replacement, contact the Monroe Water Utility general office at 608-329-2480. According to PSC regulations, refusal or failure to permit authorized utility personnel access to the base meter could result in the utility service being disconnected or refused. More information about the Water Utility's Automated Meter Reading System is available on the city's website, cityofmonroe.org.