The City of Levelland is now utilizing the new “smart” water meters that allow the city to automatically and electronically read meters and solve other issues.
Levelland city manager Jame Fisher said the new system should improve service and monitoring overall and provide accurate reading.
While some citizens are seeing changes in their bills and asking questions, Fisher said the city is there to answer any inquiries and have the new meter checked for any potential issues.
He said in the future, he hopes to have an app that will enable people to not only monitor their water usage but also be used as reporting system for other services outside of water use. “We are studying various different apps that are easy for citizens to use and all inclusive, that sends out notifications, “said Fisher. “We want to keep it simple and provide an app that everyone can use.”
From an operational efficiency perspective, the new meters should reduce meter reading costs, maintenance cost and quicken the response to citizen inquiries.
Fisher said if people feel the meter is wrong, they can contact the city utilities to check the meter out and do hands-on reading.
“We have some meters where problems were reported because of a change in a water bill and were checked multiple times, with no issues found,” said Fisher. “But it is new system, and we want to make certain the meter is as accurate as possible, and if there is a issue, address and correct it.”
The new meters come with a radio that sends signals to the cloud service then to city hall every day. With the idea of going to a fixed-based system, city staff will physically read the meters to see if there are issues or if water needs to be shut off. Those meter numbers will come in daily multiple times a day for regular operations.
With local Government Code 302, the installers of the meters have to guarantee meter accuracy and return to the area to test the meters; legislation says the meters must be tested one time in the first five years. The new meters have a 20-year warranty to ensure long-term James Fisher,City Manager accuracy and performance.
As to Levelland billing policy, water bills are sent bimonthly and are due upon receipt. Payments not received within 10 days of the billing date are subject to a 10 percent late fee and can lead to disconnection if the full amount isn’t paid by the 25th day after the billing date.
Fisher noted that unavoidable events happen in people’s lives, and the city wants to help when it can. Payment can be delayed for valid reasons, and a resident should contact the utility billing department.
“We know that life happens, and we try to work with people,” said Fisher.
“We pull up their account and see if billing has been consistent and current and work from there. We understand that an accident or illness, or other factors can cause a missed or late payment - but we have to be made aware of it.”