Ameresco has signed two advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) contracts with the cities of Baytown and Shenandoah, Texas, in projects worth more than $5 million aimed at upgrading municipal water metering systems and improving utility operations and customer service.
The two projects will introduce smart water metering technology designed to provide near real-time consumption data, strengthen system visibility and support more efficient utility management. The AMI deployments are also expected to help both cities improve leak detection, reduce manual meter reading and offer residents more accurate and timely information about their water use.
In Baytown, the rollout will begin with residential meters as part of a phased implementation. Ameresco said the new infrastructure will help the city respond more quickly to customer inquiries, replace aging meters that are no longer performing effectively and support future planning for water conservation and utility operations.
Shenandoah, meanwhile, is replacing an ageing automatic meter reading (AMR) system with a turnkey AMI solution developed by Ameresco. The project includes the replacement or retrofit of more than 1,700 water meters with solid-state meters and AMI endpoints. The city is also expected to gain access to higher-resolution consumption data and a customer portal intended to improve billing transparency for residents.
Both contracts include integration of the AMI systems with each city’s utility billing platform, as well as software, data integration and long-term operational support.
“For the first time, Baytonians will have direct access to their own water usage data, bringing greater transparency and a stronger connection to how their city serves them,” said Jason Reynolds, Baytown’s City Manager.
“With near real-time data and enhanced system visibility, we can reduce water loss, respond faster to issues, and deliver a better overall customer experience,” said Sam Masiel, Shenandoah’s City Administrator.
