Tuscaloosa Water’s metering system is getting an exciting upgrade. The City has contracted ENVOCORE to professionally install Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) across our service area. The AMI technology will help us provide:
Customers will receive a notification postcard in the mail when their area’s upgrade is occurring soon. Residential customers do not need to be home for the upgrade.
ENVOCORE will arrive in a marked vehicle and uniform. If water needs to be turned off to complete the upgrade, the installer will knock on the door and look for water use before they turn the water off. Most upgrades will take between 15 and 45 minutes and will occur during normal business hours (Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
AMI stands for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and is often referred to as Smart Metering. Smart meters are an integral part of an AMI system, allowing meters to be read remotely instead of manually.
ENVOCORE will mail postcards to customers when their area’s upgrade is occurring soon. After the new AMI meter system is installed, a post-installation doorhanger will be left providing additional information.
Please trim any overgrown landscaping and keep a clear path to the meter box, so the installers can easily access and upgrade the meter.
The City recommends NOT opening the meter box lid to avoid damaging any of the connections of the smart meter components. City personnel will read upgraded meters remotely. Meter box lids are connected to the AMI system, and opening/closing the box could damage smart meter components. If damage occurs, costs associated with any repairs may be incurred by the customer.
The water meter upgrade may cause temporary air in your pipes or water discoloration. Your water remains safe and meets or surpasses all state and federal drinking water standards. To remove any discoloration, you can run cold water from a fixture without a screen (i.e. bathtub faucet) for about 30 seconds to flush it out.
AMI meters measure when and how much water is being used, but not how it is being used.
Older meters tend to lose accuracy as they age. The new water meter will accurately measure the water that you use. All new meters are tested prior to delivery by the manufacturer to ensure that they register properly.