AWWA ACE62982

This paper presents an economic analysis of the results from the acoustic monitoring effort that indicates a more serious consideration of an automatic meter reading (AMR) conversion for American Water systems. Decreases in technology costs relative to increases in labor and vehicle costs are the major contributing factors to a shift in favor of employing AMR from the analysis conducted 8 years ago. Based upon limited trials of the cost model, it does appear that the fixed network AMR systems will provide cost savings for many American Water systems, even without the addition of the MLOG acoustic monitoring. The fixed network effects a greater reduction in the reading force (to virtually no readers) and other meter reading costs. over the mobile alternative. Although the fixed network appears to have a higher initial cost for installation than the mobile system alternative, the savings from field collection staff appears to be recoverable to a significant extent. The fixed network system will equip customer service staff with daily reads when discussing billing matters with clients.