The Duluth City Council voted Thursday night to authorize the creation of a $9.57 million automated meter reading system for gas and water meters.
The system will be developed by Johnson Controls, which also helped devise the Duluth school district's long-range facilities "red plan".
The automated meter reading system would allow the city's 53,811 meters to be read wirelessly by a computer being driven past in a vehicle. Canvassing the city in such a manner would take about three days and would require one or two employees. There are 10 positions for meter readers now, although three of those positions are unfilled.
There were some questions Thursday night about the safety and efficacy of the system.
Councilor Greg Gilbert asked whether the new system would eliminate an important safety net, since human meter readers might be able to detect a gas leak or other problem that the automated system would not report.
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Councilor Garry Krause wondered if the money could be better spent on improving utilities infrastructure, which he said is wasting taxpayer money with its inefficiencies.
Audience member Carl Strohm cast doubt on whether the system is worth its$9.57 million price tag.
"I don't see the cost justification," he said. "It's too much cost for a city that has too many costs already."
John Hall, the city's chief administrative officer, has said in previous interviews that eliminating most of the city's meter reader positions would result in a positive cash flow by the automated system's eighth year of use. By 2022, he has said, the system would save the city about $348,000 a year.
Bernie Zylka, measurement services supervisor for public works and utilities, said meter readers aren't the advance guard against dangerous gas leaks that some might think they are. His office receives notification of a possible gas leak only about once a year from meter readers. The overwhelming bulk of such calls come from homeowners, he said.
Zylka said meters in industrial, commercial and public places such as zoos and schools are checked every 12 to 15 months. The meters in private residences are checked every 60 to 63 months. Records of such inspections are examined by the Minnesota Office of Pipeline Safety, Zylka said.
"They audit is every year on this," he said. "We've got to have our records up to snuff."
In the system's defense, several city councilors praised its accuracy. Stewart said it will help improve customer service.
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"People in the city will have an accurate bill every month," Stewart said. "That means a lot to people."
