CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Cleveland Utilities wants to ramp up its efforts to convert more than 30,000 customer water meters to new wireless "smart meters."
The utility board agreed to apply for a $2.5 million loan offered through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
"This will allow us to complete the conversion in about three years as opposed to six or seven years," said CU President and CEO Ken Webb.
Webb said the revolving fund offers a 20-year, fixed-rate loan at a low interest rate, and will forgive $500,000 of the principal amount.
CU will use the money to convert 15,000 meters to wireless, according to water division reports.
That project is expected to be bid out this month, said Craig Mullinax, vice president of the water division.
Utility officials said they initiated a pilot conversion program in-house more than a year ago and had converted some 1,300 meters as of December, Mullinax said.
The automated meters have proven useful in quickly alerting the water division to problems that might not otherwise be detected until a monthly manual meter reading with older devices, he said. The meters can issue alarms for leaks, tampering and bursts.
"Cleveland Utilities will now be able to assist customers when these alarms are received," he said.
During the fall, Cleveland Utilities responded to 14 different alarms, said Mullinax.
This isn't CU's first experience with new meter technology; the electric division has had it in place since September of 2012.
Paul Leach is based in Cleveland. Email him at paul.leach.press@gmail.com.