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SMITHVILLE
SMITHVILLE — Issues and controversy that have surrounded Smithville’s smart electric meters since 2016 resurfaced last week, as officials heard blunt recommendations to abandon the system entirely.
City Council heard an update Jan. 12 on Smithville’s troubled Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and options moving forward. The city first struck its AMI deal a decade ago with Ameresco, an energy equipment and solutions firm out of Tomball.
Chad Nobles of Ameresco strongly recommended scrapping both the city’s electric and water meters for replacements.
“Your electric meters are basically useless,” Nobles said, adding water meters are expected to meet a similar fate soon.
Smithville entered into a contract with Ameresco in 2015 to upgrade its metering system, with installation occurring over the following two years. Since then, the meters have generated reports of inaccurate readings and repeated equipment failures.
Nobles said the problems stem in part from the manufacturer.
While Ameresco managed installation and oversight of the project, the meters themselves were supplied by Mueller Systems/Water Products. In 2022, Mueller informed the city and Ameresco it would no longer support electric meters.
The electric meters rely on 3G technology, which is now obsolete.
“Mueller is no longer offering anything that we could upgrade to,” Nobles said. “Meters now need to be read manually, which is going backwards.”
Moving forward, Nobles suggested the city partner with Ameresco for a fresh start.
Council members questioned the prospect of working with Ameresco again, particularly since the city has not finished paying for its current system.
Place 2 Councilman Brandon Dunham pressed Nobles directly.
“We worked with (Ameresco) to evaluate what meters were necessary last time … and you want to help us figure it out again this time,” Dunham said. “Bluntly, why should we trust you?”
Nobles noted Dunham’s question was a fair one to ask. He said he has worked in the industry for 25 years and has never personally recommended Mueller meters.
Nobles was not the initial contractor on the city’s meter project. He has worked for Ameresco for six years and stepped into the role after the city’s previous project and engineering managers died.
“We were kind of the engineer and contractor on this project … The guarantee from us was meter accuracy,” Nobles said. “Why would you choose Ameresco again? Because we’ve stuck with you.”
No action was taken at the meeting.
Dunham said he plans to draft a proposal outlining next steps for council consideration at a future meeting.
