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Tyler Water Utilities is in the process of replacing all 31,000 of its water meters with new radio read meters. These new meters are more accurate, efficient and easier for City employees to read.
According to Tyler Water Utilities Operations Manager Greg Morgan, the new meters use "drive by" technology, which means TWU employees will no longer walk through the citys neighborhoods to read each water meter. They will drive by and the meters will automatically send a radio signal to a computer mounted in a City vehicle. The data will then be used by the Water Business Office to prepare your monthly water bill. This process will significantly reduce the labor costs associated with collecting water meter readings.
Transmitters in the new meters are powered by a battery in a waterproof casing and are guaranteed to last 10 years. Receivers can read the meters up to two miles away in open areas and slightly less in hilly terrain. The radio read technology is well tested and proven to save cities money. It is used in hundreds of cities across the country.
The new meters will be installed over the next 14 months. The installation of each meter will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. During that 30-minute period your water will be turned off. The City will notify you when workers are in your neighborhood.
Because the new meters read water consumption more accurately than older meters, some water customers will see a slight change in their monthly water bill. Tyler Water Utilities estimates water bills will increase by approximately $3 for some households. This is not a rate increase, but a reflection that the customer is currently being undercharged because of an older inaccurate meter.
The new meters have a dial on their face and can be read manually, so residents can still keep track of water usage themselves.
Questions about the new radio read water meters should be directed to Greg Morgan, Operations Manager for Tyler Water Utilities, at 903-531-1234.
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