Ken Webb, Cleveland UtilitiesCLEVELAND, Tenn. – Cleveland Utilities is scheduled to launch the second phase of a project to convert some 30,000 manual water meters to automated wireless models in January.
About 16,000 devices need to be installed to finish switching CU’s customer base over to the new “smart meters.” The conversion of about 14,000 meters in the project’s first phase eliminated 68 manual reader routes.
In a recent meeting, CU board members voted 5-0 to approve a $298,239 installation bid submitted by Baird Contracting Co. of Birmingham, Ala. The nearest competing bids were $357,222 and $365,530, and the highest bid was $747,675.
Baird Contracting Co. also was the contractor on the first phase, said Ken Webb, president and CEO of Cleveland Utilities.
The board already has voted to buy the 16,000 meters for $2.2 million