Coastside County Water District has invested in advanced metering infrastructure.
The District installed the Aclara Fixed Network AMI STAR® System. The component attached to the water meter is called the meter transmission unit (MTU) and this radio unit transmits hourly meter readings every six hours to a data collection unit (DCU). From the DCU, the meter readings are transmitted to a database from which the District can access the meter readings and import them into our utility billing database.
Clear obstructions, including bushes and fencing, away from meters
Move vehicles, so they do not block access to meters
Meter readings are encrypted and sent to a data collector unit using a private licensed radio frequency channel. From the data collector unit, a cellular data network is used to send the readings to a central server. The meter readings are then pulled from the server into the District’s utility billing database over a secure network. The advanced metering system only transmits meter reads, meter identification numbers, and diagnostic information about the meter and the meter transmission unit. The advanced metering system does not transmit any personal customer information.
The radio signal (RF) used to transmit data from the meter to the data collector unit is much weaker than those used by many household devices. The meter transmission units deployed by the District use a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed 450 to 470 MHz radio frequency. Laptops, cell phones and wireless routers all emit more energy than the meter transmission unit. Additional factors that limit exposure are that the meter transmission unit sends one signal every four hours and each transmission lasts less than one second. The meters are also located near the street and away from dwellings. Visit the Federal Communications Commission’s website for addition information and resources on exposure to radio frequency.
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