HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - No. 2005-64a 1 00 1 = I to] 01 Ki " 1WK&0K*11Aq 1,
WHEREAS, the meter industry has gradually moved toward solid state meters
i,e., away from electro mechanical meters; and
WHEREAS, this trend in meter technology utilization is being implemented
across the power customer base such as residential, small commercial, agricultural,
hospital, big commercial, industrial, etc.; and
WHEREAS, in August 1999, the Lodi City Council approved Resolution
No. 99-124 to standardize demand and time -of -use solid-state meters for big
commercial and industrial customers. A majority of Lodi's single-phase meters for
residential and small commercial customers are still electro -mechanical units. These
meters are only available as special order items and are marginally supported due to the
age of the technology; and
WHEREAS, with solid-state meters, each manufacturer uses proprietary and
distinct protocol, programming, testing, troubleshooting, data processing software, and
communication devices. The user of such meters, like the City of Lodi, has to maintain
each manufacturer's software, hardware, and system upgrades. User has to train staff
to efficiently work with the different meter units and systems thus making the metering
tasks complex; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lodi purchases approximately 576 meters for residential
and small commercial installation annually, and these single-phase meters are priced
from $33 to $65 per unit depending on the complexity of the meter, with the vast
majority being in the $33 range; and
WHEREAS, considering cost to the City for maintaining software and hardware
systems and periodic upgrades from each manufacturer, as well as staff training time on
the various systems coupled with the relatively low volume of meters purchased yearly,
it is recommended that the City Council authorize the standardization of solid state
meters and acquiring these meters from one manufacturer, urian, of Spokane,
Washington; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Itron system is compatible with the City's existing
programming,data retrieval, and processing equipment The City owns the latest
software, software support, and necessary hardware for the Schlumberger system. In
December 2004, Itron acquired Schlumberger and all its meter businesses; and
WHEREAS, Itron is also a leading company in development and deployment of
the Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) technology. Itron solid-state meters for residential
and small commercial are scalable to AMR application. The City would be positioned to
advance its meter reading responsibility from the usual "walk -by" process to "drive-by"
method or migrate directly to "network" system. There are other benefits that could be
derived from ]iron meter deployment, both tangibles and intangibles; and
WHEREAS, the metering industry is considering developing a protocol and
equipment that can be utilized on all manufacturers' products; however, such standard
protocol and equipment is years away from being marketed. When such standard
protocol and equipment is available, the City will be considering meters from all
manufacturers.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby
approve the standardization of solid state meters from one manufacturer, ]trop, of
Spokane, Washington.
Dated: April 6, 2005
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2005-64 was passed and adopted by the City
Council of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held April 6, 2005, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Hansen, Johnson, Mounce, and
Mayor Beckman
Fff-,7 R j a NL �0141# I 'L gXffija�,�q
_ jT#@jRL
SUSAN J. BLACKSTON
City Clerk