
Pasadena Water and Power (PWP) is embarking on an far-reaching project to upgrade its utility metering system – a project called the Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) which aims to revolutionize how the City manages and monitors its water and electriCity services.
PWP will report on the progress of the AMI project at a meeting of the City Council’s Municipal Service on Tuesday.
The AMI initiative comes on the heels of the Customer Information System implementation in April 2022, which laid the groundwork for the City’s technological modernization efforts.
“AMI systems are integrated networks of smart meters and data management systems that enable two-way communication to improve water and energy management,” David M. Reyes, General Manager of PWP, said in a memorandum for the Municipal Services Committee.
The new system will replace the current Automated Meter Reading (AMR) setup, which primarily relies on radio drive-by readings for most of the City’s approximately 80,000 accounts, comprising 68,000 electric and 38,000 water meters.
A preliminary report that will be detailed on Tuesday showed PWP hosted an AMI project kick-off meeting in March. The AMI project is expected to take three and a half years to complete, starting with the Needs Assessment, Business Case, and Roadmap phase.
The process will unfold in several phases, followed by procurement, system integration with a pilot program, and finally, mass meter deployment, the report showed.
One of the key advantages of the AMI system is its ability to provide more frequent meter readings at 15-minute intervals, according to the report. This capability will enable monthly billing and allow customers to set up alerts if their usage trends above a predetermined budget. The system will also enable remote connection and disconnection of service.
The new infrastructure is also expected to play a crucial role in achieving Pasadena’s carbon-free energy goals, the report said. By enabling real-time energy usage monitoring and optimizing grid efficiency, AMI will facilitate the implementation of Time of Use (TOU) rates and demand response programs.
PWP added the system will provide valuable data to customers with solar panels, home batteries, or electric vehicles, helping them make informed decisions about energy management.
Water conservation efforts are also set to benefit from the AMI implementation, the report said.
The system will provide detailed usage data to customers, potentially influencing behavior and encouraging conservation. Moreover, it will enable early detection of water leaks and alert PWP to suspicious water-use changes, allowing for prompt responses to potential issues.
On the power side, the AMI system promises to reduce outage durations by improving response times and accuracy in predicting outage locations. It will also enhance system planning capabilities for the distribution grid and increase power quality by providing voltage information at the meter level.
PWP plans to select an AMI Program Management Vendor to oversee the procurement, deployment, and communication aspects of the initiative. According to the report, this vendor will provide professional services to procure an AMI solution, manage AMI deployment, and assist with internal and external communications. A recommendation to the City Council is expected this fall.
The final phase of mass meter deployment will include a proactive communication plan to inform customers about the new system.