HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - August 19, 2020 C-10c-l oAGENDA ITEM
Crrv or Loor
CouNcIr, ConnMUNIcATIoN
AGENDA TITLE:
MEETING DATE:
PREPARED BY:
Adopt Resolution Authorizing city Manager to Execute a statement of work
Agreement with lrRoN,, lnc., of Liberty Lake, wA for on-premise rmplementation
Services to Deploy ITRON Bridge Meters ($30,000);Authorizing purchase of
ITRON Bridge Meters from General Pacific, lnc. of Fairview, OR ($O,SOO); and
Authorizing Appropriation of Funds
August 19,2020
Electric Utility Director
RECOMMENDED AGTION: Adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute a
Statement of Work Agreement with ITRON, lnc., of Liberty Lake,
WA for on-premise implementation services to deploy ITRON Bridge
Meters in an amount not-to-exceed $30,000; authorizing the
purchase of ITRON Bridge Meters from General pacific, lnc, of
Fairview, OR in an amount not-to-exceed 96,500; and authorizing
the appropriation of funds.
BAGKGROUND INFORMATION: Lodi Electric Utility (LEU) is looking to conduct a pilot deployment
and technology evaluation for remote disconnecUreconnect capable
Itron Bridge Meters to address safety concerns for utitity personnel.
At this time, LEU is not disconnecting service to customers for non-payment due to the COVID-19pandemic and there is no current estimated timeline for restoring suclr activities. However, at the point
normal operations resume with respect to customer disconnects, a project such as this willtake mbnths
to fully implement and taking action now to approve the proposed projéct will ensure LEU is prepared to
resume normal operations without additional delay and cost. Moving fonruard to approve thid project now
will maintain our position on the vendor's schedule and authorize stãff to place thé ôrder for the froposedmeters which currently have a lead time of up to 10 weeks.
The existing automatic meter reading (AMR) network for the City of Lodi is a legacy ltron system which
was designed and deployed in order to allow for the remote collection of utility ðonéumptioÁ data from the
City's electric and water customers. This network began operations approximately 10 years ago and was
designed to be a one-way communication capable platform.
Historically, prior to COVID-19, the City of Lodi has continued to experience a significant volume of
events which require seruices be disconnected due to non-payment of their elec[ric utility accounts.
These disconnects have required field personnelto physically go to every customer locátion and gain
physical access to the customer's meter. These disconnects have often resulted in confrontationð with
customers, animals, and even situations in which firearms have been brandished and threats made of
utility staff. ln certain situations, utility field services staff are unable to gain physical access to the meter
and have required the services of other utility staff to disconnect electriC servicé at the service
transformer connection,or on City utility pole lines. Historical disconnect for non-peyment (DNp) data
shows that 3 percent of Lodi's electric customer accounts have accounted for 5T.percent of tne brup
APPROVED:
Adgpt R€solut¡oî Aulhorizing City Maneger to Execute Statement of Work Agreement wlth ITRON, lnc,, of Liberty Lake, WA for on-premlBe lmplementalon SêNlcegto Deploy ITRoN Brldge Meters (S30,000); Aulhorizing Purchase of ITRoN Brtdge Meters From eãneråt pao¡fic;iñ. oi rairvfãu,, on ($B,5oo); ã;d ÁuifròrfiingApproprlatlon of Funds
August 19, 2020
Page 2
incidents since January 2018. Of the 3,873 DNPs during this time period, 2,190 were repeat customers
comprised of only 800 customer accounts.
By deploying the ltron Bridge Meters, the electric utility also expects to be able to more quickly respond
to customer requests for reconnection.
Ïhe proposed pilot deployment will evaluate this new technology and its functional performance as well
as its impact on field operations and customer service relative to service disconneci/reconnect practices.
It is expected that following a one-year pilot program, continued use and expansion of this technology will
be considered by the electric utility and may become part of standard operating procedures and
hardware utilized by the utility.
ln accordance with Lodi Municipal Code, Section 3.20.070, it is necessary to purchase ITRON software
and hardware for this effort versus that of another vendor/supplier to ensúre compatibility with the City's
existing fixed network and associated infrastructure. Generai Þacific, lnc. is Lodi'ð cunent distribution
representative for ITRON meters.
FISCAL IMPACT:
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
The cost to procure and deploy this technology is approximately $36,b00.
While funds for the actual meters are included in the Fy 2l budget,
additionalfunds will need to be appropriated for the proposed sèrvices from
lrRoN. lt is anticipated that a long-term strategy to automate utility
operations will result in operational efficiencies over time.
Funding for the proposed meter purchase in the amount of g6,500 is
available in Account 50064400.72360. staff is requesting an appropriation
from Fund 500 to Account 50062000.72450r'or the proposed services with
ITRON in the amount of $30,000.
Andrew Keys
Andrew Keys
Deputy City Manager/lnternal Services Director
Jeff Berkheimer
Jeff Berkheimer
Electric Utility Director
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-179
A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A STATEMENT OF WORK
AGREEMENT WITH ITRON, INC. OF LIBERTY LAKE, WASHINGTON,
FOR ON-PREMISE IMPLEMENTATION SERVICES TO DEPLOY ITRON
BRIDGE METERS; AUTHORIZING PURCHASE OF ITRON BRIDGE
METERS FROM GENERAL PACIFIC, INC., OF FAIRVIEW, OREGON;
AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATION OF FUNDS
WHEREAS, Lodi Electric Utility (LEU) is planning to conduct a pilot deployment and
technology evaluation for remote disconnect/reconnect-capable ltron Bridge Meters to address
safety concerns for utility personnel; and
WHEREAS, at this time, LEU is not disconnecting service to customers for non-payment
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no current estimated timeline for restoring such
activities; and
WHEREAS, at the point normal operations resume with respect to customer disconnects,
a project such as this will take months to fully implement and taking action now to approve the
proposed project will ensure LEU is prepared to resume normal operations without additional
delay and cost; and
WHEREAS, historically, prior to COVID-19, the City of Lodi has continued to experience
a significant volume of events which require services be disconnected due to non-payment of
electric utility accounts, and these disconnects have required field personnel to physically go to
every customer location and gain physical access to the customer's meter; and
WHEREAS, these disconnects have often resulted in confrontations with customers,
animals, and even situations in which firearms have been brandished and threats made of utility
staff; and in certain situations, utility field services staff are unable to gain physical access to the
meter and have required the services of other utility staff to disconnect electric service at the
service transformer connection or on City utility pole lines; and
WHEREAS, by deploying the ltron Bridge Meters, Electric Utility also expects to be able
to more quickly respond to customer requests for reconnection; and
WHEREAS, the proposed pilot deployment will evaluate this new technology and its
functional performance, as well as its impact on field operations and customer service relative to
service disconnect/reconnect practices; and
WHEREAS, it is expected that following a one-year pilot program, continued use and
expansion of this technology will be considered by Electric Utility and may become part of
standard operating procedures and hardware utilized by the utility; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with Lodi Municipal Code, Section 3.20.070, it is necessary to
purchase ITRON software and hardware for this effort versus that of another vendor/supplier to
ensure compatibility with the City's existing fixed network and associated infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the cost to procure and deploy this technology is approximately $36,500, and
sufficient funds are available in the FY 2020121 LEU Budget Account No. 50064400.72360 for the
purchase of meters in the amount of $6,500; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends that the City Council appropriate funds in the amount of
$30,000 from the Electric Utility Operating Fund Balance (Fund 500) to account 50062000.72450.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE lT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby authorize
the City Manager to execute a Statement of Work Agreement with ITRON, lnc., of Liberty Lake,
Washington, for on-premise implementation services to deploy ITRON Bridge Meters in an
amount not to exceed $30,000; and
BE lT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby authorize the
purchase of ITRON Bridge Meters from General Pacific, lnc., of Fairview, Oregon in an amount
not to exceed $6,500; and
BE lT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby authorize an
appropriation in the amount of $30,000 as set forth above; and
BE lT FURTHER RESOLVED, pursuant to Section 6.3q of the City Council Protocol
Manual (adopted 1116119, Resolution No. 2019-223), the City Attorney is hereby authorized to
make minor revisions to the above-referenced document(s) that do not alter the compensation or
term, and to make clerical corrections as necessary.
Dated: August 19,2020
I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2020-179 was passed and adopted by the City Council
of the City of Lodi in a regular meeting held August 19, 2020 by the following votes:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - Chandler, Mounce, Nakanishi, and Mayor Kuehne
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS - None b
JENNI CUSMIR
City Clerk
2020-179