Smart Meters to be Installed for Toledo’s Water Customers

City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities water customers should soon have fewer headaches over their water bills. The department will replace 116,000 analog water meters with smart meters across residences and businesses beginning in July.

Also known as advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), the new smart meters will enable automated transmission of individual customers’ water meter readings, providing them with accurate, near-real-time data on their individual water usage. This technology will help customers gain deeper insight and understanding of how and when they use water.

Once the accompanying customer service portal is online, customers will have the ability to see their water usage as it happens, which means they can set alert notifications and manage their water usage — and budgets — better than ever before.

“The City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities is always modernizing and improving,” Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said. “Installing smart meter infrastructure provides water customers peace of mind and convenient on-demand access to timely consumption information, automated leak alerts, and powerful budgeting tools to help manage consumption and improve water stewardship.”

The smart meters will report readings automatically throughout the day, allowing the city to track system leaks, reduce meter reading costs, provide immediate and transparent information to customers, and improve customer service.

“The new AMI system ensures accurate billing by eliminating manual reading of water meters or estimates,” public utilities Director Ed Moore said. “We want to make it easy for customers to understand their water bill, trust what they are paying for, and get help when they need it.”

The installations will be conducted in phases across the city. Prior to installation, residents will be notified by letter with general information about AMI, its benefits, and a project timeline. All residential installations are planned to be completed in approximately two years.

During installation, Johnson Controls and its subcontractors, working on behalf of the Department of Public Utilities, will interrupt water service for approximately 60 minutes at each residential customer’s location. Before leaving the property, crews will run 10 gallons through the system to verify positive consumption and open a faucet within the home to flush out any sediment.

“We are proud to help the city of Toledo take the next step toward its digital transformation using efficient equipment and digital technology. Working closely with the city of Toledo, we created a plan to address deferred maintenance, which includes updating aging meters and integrating meter reading and billing systems that are smart, sustainable, and user-friendly for residents and businesses,” Mark Reinbold, vice president and general manager of performance infrastructure for Johnson Controls said. “Other cities can look to Toledo as a model of how they can make similar improvements in their communities — making it a more desirable place to live, work and enjoy — without impacting their budget.”

In addition to carrying proper identification, installers will be wearing vests and driving vehicles clearly marked with the City of Toledo and Johnson Controls logos. Installers will also be screened for COVID-19 symptoms daily, wear personal protective equipment and practice social distancing.

There is no cost to the customer for the installation of the meter.

To learn more about smart meters and see a map of the installation phases, visit toledo.oh.gov/smart-meters.

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