City of Muskogee

PROJECT PURPOSE

The City of Muskogee faces a critical need to replace 6,500 outdated water meters within the city limits to ensure that residents receive fair and accurate billing of their water usage. The meters currently used by the city lack the battery life necessary for reliable readings and are at increased risk of malfunction due to age and extended use. These smart meters have outlived their life expectancy and the needed upgrade would increase reading accuracy; provide real-time leak protection for the city and residents; improve customer water management for residents; and offer high-level data analysis. Muskogee residents deserve the most accurate reading possible to reduce the financial costs associated with inaccuracy incurred by both the customer and the city. The installation of these meters would be completed in 2022 and would complete the city?s water meter update project which began in 2021.

EVIDENCE

It is widely held that current smart utility meters offer increased benefits from the older meters. In addition to adding value to homes, real benefits of these meters for consumers include higher visibility and accuracy, lower costs, and greener energy. For the city, energy consumption data can be analyzed more effectively, meter readings are more accurate, and energy pricing models are more convenient. Another advantage is that the supplier can communicate directly with the consumer instead of sending their people to the consumer?s home. Smart meters will help the city and households make better choices regarding energy consumption.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

The City of Muskogee water authority provides potable water to the residents of the largest city (37,868) in a county that the USDA has designated a ?StrikeZone? because of its high poverty rate (24.6%) and its many economic disparities and challenges. Muskogee water serves a poor, diverse and rural population that has been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic due to restricted access to health services and socioeconomic challenges resulting from inadequate infrastructure, limited economic development opportunities, inconsistent broadband access, and access to employment. In addition to chronic poverty, other vulnerable populations include the elderly (15.5% over 65); and children (25.1% under 18). There is also a high percentage of minorities:15.3% Black; 15.9% American Indian; 0.8% Asian; 10.1% two or more races; and 8.3% Hispanic. The addition of these water meters would benefit the vulnerable populations served by Muskogee water by reducing their water bills; protecting them from significant overage charges through real-time leak protection; and having ready access to high-level data analysis for improved customer service.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Updated smart meters would allow the city to track resident usage more accurately through regular audits and offer an immediate point of comparison with the outdated meters currently in use. Also, these meters offer high level data analysis that can track usage to inform conservation efforts and show how water infrastructure is being used. This can be useful for future planning. Finally, smart meters reduce water loss through real time leak detection and help ensure that customers are paying for the water they are using. Improved meters would make all this data readily available for regularly scheduled audits.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

One-time project will not need continued funding