Historical Facts About the City of Barrie · Automated meter system and in-house billing gives us...

Historical Facts About the City of Barrie

1850 – Town of Barrie is incorporated, population: 800

1897 – Town of Barrie and Village of Allandale amalgamate, population: 6,000

1950 – Population: 12,830

1959 – Incorporation of the City of Barrie, population: 20,280

1970 – Population: 26,700

Barrie’s Water is supplied by 14 ground wells

For the next 30 years the population growth was estimated at 3330 per year, the

population grew to over 100,000 in year 2000

2010 – Population 135,000

2011 Barrie is planning on switching over part of the City’s water customers to

surface water, being supplied by it’s new 90 mega liter Surface Water Treatment.

City of Barrie Water AMI/AMR Presentation- Feb 2011

The City of Barrie prides itself on not only being Ontario’s premier waterfront community, but also

delivering great value to the tap. Barrie’s Water Operations Branch works diligently to ensure full access

to a safe and reliable water supply.

Through a network of approximately 600 kilometers of water main. The city’s drinking water is monitored

and tested based on more than 100 parameters at a frequency and scope set out by the Province.

Community safety is at the forefront when it comes to managing the city’s water. From consumption to

making sure that water is reaching all 42,500 customers and 3,450 fire hydrants in the city.

Water production is in excess of 16,000,000 m3.

5 Year Water Consumption & Water Billing Statistics5 Year Water Consumption & Water Billing Statistics

20062006 20072007 20082008 200920092010 2010

(Averaged Oct(Averaged Oct--Dec)Dec)

Water Consumption-m3 9,355,767 9,705,308 8,865,677 8,684.821 8,322,034

Water Billing $9,503,715 $10,323,337 $9,552,764 $10,382,453 $11,221,368


In 2003 the City of Barrie Water Branch started looking at AMR

systems.

We tested 3 different manufactures of AMR systems.

Since 1988 the City of Barrie started switching it’s meter population to

“Rockwell Meters” (Sensus).

Three different reasons why we went to Rockwell was price and the

meters were manufactured in Barrie.

By 2003 the majority of the City’s meters were Sensus(Rockwell).

At the time we elected the Sensus Drive-by system.

Also at the time we could see that the technology was changing very

quickly, so it was decided to limit the number of installs until we were

convinced which way we wanted to go.


Overview of AMI/AMR Program.Overview of AMI/AMR Program.

In 2004-2005 the City of Barrie started working with Barrie Hydro

and The Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury to see if

there was any changes of a working partnership with Barrie Hydro

who was billing water for both Municipalities.

Since the Province had mandated Hydro Companies the switch

over to Smart Meters by Jan 2011, The City of Barrie started

looking a lot more seriously at Smart Metering as well.

In June of 2009 the City formed a committee to look at the meter

reading and billing practices and see if we were getting the best

bang for our buck.

The committee was made up of 6 members from different

departments. Their mandate was to look at everything and report

back within 30 days.


This does not include surrounding Municipalities and is based onBarrie’s yearly growth rate of 1.5%.

** As compared to status quo.

FORECASTED TOTAL AMI FOR RESIDENTIAL AND ICI COMBINEDFORECASTED TOTAL AMI FOR RESIDENTIAL AND ICI COMBINED

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

**44,500 45,168 45,845 46,533 47,231 47,939 48,658 49,388 50,129 50,881 51,644


Flex Net™ is the industry's only solution for utilities that demand

unmatched customer service and pinpoint-accurate reads.

Only FlexNet delivers Primary-Use licensing by the FCC, which

guarantees an uncluttered, crystal clear path for transmissions and that

paves the way for an industry-leading two watts of power, making the

FlexNet system the only mass-deployed utility system to enjoy the

highest level of protection, power and productivity in North America.

FlexNet Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) solution is offered

exclusively from Sensus. It empowers electricity, gas, water or

combination utilities with a proven means to increase meter reading

efficiency, reduce overhead costs and enhance customer service

simply, reliably, and with unlimited flexibility.


Sensus FlexNet Solution

Sensus Radio Read Meter Transceiver Unit (MXU)

Model 510R is a non-pit set radio signal device which

permits off site meter reading via radio signals.

The MXU interfaces with any compatible absolute

encoder-equipped utility meter with a Sensus Radio

Read interrogator device.

The Sensus MXU eliminates a number of meter reading

problems such as lockouts, curbside reading estimates,

estimated bills and errors associated with manual meter

reading methods.


OptionOption Water Water ConservationConservation

Customer Customer Focused Focused SolutionSolution

Local Local Jobs and Jobs and ServicesServices

Short Term vs Short Term vs Long Term Long Term

SolutionSolution

1. PowerStream meter reads, bills & collects.

No No No Short Term

2. Third Party manually reads, bills & collects

No No No Short Term

3. Third Party manually reads, COB bills & collects.

NoSome

ImprovementYes Short Term

4. COB uses AMI readings, Third Party bills & collects.

YesSome

ImprovementNo Long Term

5. COB uses AMI readings, bills & collects.

Yes Yes Yes Long Term


OptionsOptions Total Total DollarsDollars Savings**Savings**

1. PowerStream meter reads, bills & collects. $26.0 Million $0

2. Third Party manually reads, bills & collects. $15.8 Million $10.2 Million

3. Third Party manually reads, COB bills & collects.

$13.0 Million $13.0 Million

4. COB uses AMI readings, third party bills & collects.

$19.3 Million $6.7 Million

5. COB uses AMI readings, bills & collects. $12.9 Million $13.1 Million

Includes capital costs, full amortization within 10 years, operating costs.



OptionsOptions Total DollarsTotal Dollars Savings**Savings**

1. PowerStream meter reads, bills & collects.

$98 Million $0

3. Third Party manually reads, COB bills and collects.

$27 Million $71 Million

5. COB uses AMI readings, bills & collects.

$20 Million $78 Million

Includes capital costs, full amortization within 20 years, operating costs.



We can solve spikes in consumption sooner, before customers see

bills.

Less carbon footprint because vehicles aren’t needed on the road to

read meters.

Water consumption usage will assist consumers in determining a

water conservation strategy that would best suit their needs thereby

increasing the success of a conservation program.

The only way to perform an accurate water balance in the system is

with automated metering. The City would have the ability to accurately

evaluate the difference between water production and water

consumption.

Water loss is more accurately determined with automated meter

reading, theft of water will be identified whereas it is currently


Positioning the City with Smart Metering ahead of potential proposed

regulation and manual meter reading will become obsolete.

Automated meter system and in-house billing gives us more options

for different kinds of rate structures, billing frequencies, time of use,

liters, m3, surcharges and sundry billing.

Manual meter reading does not allow for efficient and accurate water

system monitoring.

Reporting to management and the Province would be more accurate

and timely.

The entire package better serves our customers.

Proposed legislation similar to the requirement for electrical meters,

could potentially happen within the next few years.


Short Term vs. Long Term Solution Short Term vs. Long Term Solution ContinuedContinued

We would be ready to meet those new requirements.

Manual meter reading is becoming an obsolete way to gather water

consumption data.

Our recommendations provide staff with the ability to provide good

customer service, efficiently and effectively.

Reporting to management and the Province will be more accurate,

with real time data.

We can better serve our customers and the Corporation.


This system creates the ability to identify and resolve This system creates the ability to identify and resolve

water leaks sooner with potential savings to our water leaks sooner with potential savings to our

customers estimated at $100,000 per year.customers estimated at $100,000 per year.

AMR is the only way to identify residential backflow AMR is the only way to identify residential backflow

incidences, protects public and our water system.incidences, protects public and our water system.

Stopped and tampered meters are identified in hours Stopped and tampered meters are identified in hours

instead of days or months.instead of days or months.

Customers can access their consumption data online Customers can access their consumption data online

with a dashboard feature.with a dashboard feature.


Customer Focused Solution ContinuedCustomer Focused Solution Continued

No inconvenience to the customer for access issues, No inconvenience to the customer for access issues,

e.g. snow, locked gates or unleashed dogs.e.g. snow, locked gates or unleashed dogs.

When we can resolve leaks sooner, we can reduce the When we can resolve leaks sooner, we can reduce the

cost to the customer which can range from $200 to cost to the customer which can range from $200 to

$1,200 in potential charges.$1,200 in potential charges.

Identifying backflow incidents can be done by the AMR Identifying backflow incidents can be done by the AMR

system which is a critical component of protecting our system which is a critical component of protecting our

water.water.

Manual meter reading cannot identify or provide any of Manual meter reading cannot identify or provide any of

these items in less than 45 days.these items in less than 45 days.

City of Barrie Water AMI/AMR Presentation-Feb 2011

Software and hardware investigated is able to

accommodate current requirements and future growth.

E-billing, e-payments, customer consumption, online

inquiry and advanced reporting would be possible.

In-house billing allows for the flexibility with billing options

frequency, timing, application of rates, sundry billing.

Gives us complete control and ownership of our data.


Billing, Collections and Customer Billing, Collections and Customer Service ContinuedService Continued

We can provide better customer service, one stop shop

for the customer for less cost.

There is billing software on the market that can provide

the type of system we need to better serve our

customers with features of online access, e-commerce

and improved reporting.

A new billing system will provide us with the flexibility to

make changes, adapt quickly and inexpensively.

Our customers will desire to see their water

consumption online starting in 2011 as they start to see

their electricity consumption, they will want to see water


Reduce water meter reading costs – Yes.

Reduce billing costs – Yes.

Without compromising services or service

levels – Yes.


AMI solution

The City of Barrie issued a RFI (twice) and Sensus was the

chosen manufacturer.

Some of the factors why Sensus was chosen over others:

1) Ease of installation, 100% of Barrie residential meters are

Sensus so there is no need to enter a customers home.

This feature also cuts the cost of the project almost in half.

2) Two way communication to and from the MXU’s.

3) Licensed frequency (City of Barrie was experiencing

many problems with unlicensed frequency interfering with

your communications system).


AMI solution

Fast installation time, Water Operations was

given 5 months to complete 42,500 installations

which normally would take 2 -3 years to

complete.

Price, Sensus may not have been the cheapest

for actual Frequency Integrators, however, the

overall system was the City of Barrie’s choice.

The number of end units installed and systems

working throughout North America was

impressive.


This is a portion of the screen that staff and customers would see, monitoring

the consumption of a particular water meter.

Staff can click on any particular bar representing one day, drilling down to a similar table showing the consumption by hour.

Also on the screen that we cannot show here, are sections that alert staff to

stopped meters, tampered meters and consumption outside certain parameters.


Prompt resolution of issues is very important because there will be a lot of different elements that inter-relate. If one is stopped then it affects all the others.

Maintaining a relationship with PowerStream in any format, we are already seeing this since the project was approved(for example, restricted access to screens, adjustments, lien listings).

Project Co-ordination – there are aspects of this project that create touch points between Finance and Operations (billing software, CityWorks, policies, procedures and legal agreements) we need to pay particular attention to these as the project moves through the different stages.


Communications Requirements Communications Requirements Continued:Continued:

Effective communications is absolutely critical to

our customers. Our intentions are to roll out

clear and concise information that is timely and

accurate, using every medium we can (website,

inserts, city page) throughout the project to all

key stakeholders:

Council, the Corporation

Finance Department

Operations

City of Barrie Water AMI/AMR Presentation-Feb2011

Potential Risks Potential Risks

Required to minimize or eliminate some of these

risks are:

Strong, ongoing support from Executive Management Teams.

A clear project plan that helps maintain focus.

Use of an Advisory Committee to mitigate potential road blocks or

problems.

Effective on-going communication between team members and

departments. This helps to quickly identify where the project may

be delayed, stalled or encounter potential problems.

Avoid conflicting priorities – other projects currently in place or to

come could take away valuable resources.

Data integrity – more confidence with customer data being


Start Up Risk to Avoid

Give yourself enough time to get your radio licenses from the

Federal Government. We where told 2 -6 weeks to obtain in

fact it took 4 months.

Investigate the programming devices you will be using, you

don’t have to use a Sensus unit. They are pricey (Budget).

Ensure if possible to negotiate an exit agreement with your

current contractor.

Be prepared for some extensive training for your AMI person.

Should you have a contractor doing the installs ensure they

are working behind the present meter readers.


Start Up Risk to Avoid

Ensure that you have sorted out with other departments

areas of responsibility.

This is a must: Have staff in place and up to speed as

much as possible before the project starts.


Historical Facts About the City of Barrie · Automated meter system and in-house billing gives us...

Documents

Transcript of Historical Facts About the City of Barrie · Automated meter system and in-house billing gives us...