Alternatives and Complementary Systems to Consider

| By Peter Mayer

Customer metering is fundamental to the successful function of a modern water utility. The introduction of expensive Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems with fixed data transmission networks and battery powered “smart” water meters has confronted many utilities with the challenging and consequential decision: To buy AMI or not to buy? Today, the alternatives to AMI are making this decision more difficult than ever, and they have utilities considering options beyond fixed communication networks.