A Project in Partnership with Johnson Controls & Vanguard Utility Service

Mandatory Meter Update
APRIL 2022 UPDATE: 
Vanguard Utility Services have completed their work and all remaining water meters will be scheduled between the City of Adrian and the water/sewer customer. 
General Information:
In May 2021 the City of Adrian is beginning the process of updating water meters throughout the City with an automated meter reading process.
This is a mandatory water meter update project with no additional charge to the customer.
Please call (517) 264-4821 to schedule your meter upgrade.

The City has contracted with Johnson Controls and Vanguard Utility Service for this water meter project.  Installation of this project began in May 2021 and is in the final stages of completion as of March 2022. This upgrade requires access to the meter inside your home.  Pipes before and after the meter must be in good condition. An adult who is over the age of 18 years old must be present at all meter appointments.  The entire change out process takes 30 minutes in most cases. 

Johnson Controls and Vanguard Utility Service are experienced water meter contractors. All crew members will have an I.D. badge and they will produce a letter from the City identifying who they are and the purpose of their visit. Please give these representatives your cooperation in facilitating the water meter replacement.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

FAQ:

• My meter was replaced in the last few years, will I still need to make an appointment? 
  
  • Yes, even if you have a newer meter you will still need to schedule an appointment. Some meters (depending on age and size) will only be updating the transmitter but an appointment is still necessary as installers need access into the building/residence.

• Why haven't I received my postcard to schedule an appointment?
  • Johnson Controls & Vanguard began mailing postcards in May 2021. 
  • To date (January 2022) all customers have received all postcards and any non-responsive customers have received door tags asking them to schedule an appointment. Any remaining non-responsive customers will receive a final notice letter from the City.

• Why is the City of Adrian undertaking this project? Why now?
  • The City of Adrian water metering system needs modernization because most of the existing water meters are rapidly approaching the end of their useful life, and the manual water meter reading system is very costly. The new meter reading system will read the water meters once every hour and send that data back to the City automatically. The existing water meters are mechanical devices that lose their accuracy over time. The new water meters are all electronic with no moving parts and will hold their accuracy for 20 years
• How much is this going to cost me and how will I be billed for this?
  • Customers will not be charged for the new water meters and the automated meter reading system. The new system will be paid for out of operational and maintenance savings from the new water meters and new meter reading technology and from increased revenues from replacing inaccurate meters.
• Will my water bill go up?
  • Not necessarily: the new water meters will simply record consumption more accurately. In some cases, a bill may increase slightly, but only if the current water meter is underreporting usage. The new system will provide for accurate billing and ensure fairness and equality for all the residents and businesses. The new metering technology will quickly identify water leaks at your residence or business, and the customer web portal will promptly inform you of the potential leak so that you can avoid paying a high bill.
• How long will it take to install the new meters? How will I be notified?
  • The project started in May 2021 and should be completed in about 12 months.  All customers have received postcards notifying them to schedule an appointment.  Door hangers were also used to notify customers of missing appointments or failure to schedule. Workers will have marked vehicles, uniforms, and picture ID cards that will be worn at all times. he City has selected Johnson Controls for this project, a company that is reliable and experienced in projects like this. They have installed well over a million water meters for other cities and utilities across the country.
• What benefits will I see from this project?
  • The new technology will ensure accuracy, and efficiency in delivering water to our customers. The new system will reduce unauthorized water usage and identify leaks that currently impact all customers. The new system will also gather data on usage patterns, recognize irregularities, and alert the system operators to notify you if potential leaks are discovered, thus helping to save you money on future bills.

• I recently upgraded my meter through Vanguard. Why has my meter read date changed?
  • Your meter read date may change slightly after your meter change. Since the reads will be available immediately, all route numbers in a given cycle will be read within three days of each other instead of over the course of a work week.
  • For example: customers in Cycle 1 (account numbers beginning with 0101-0165), your new read date will be between the 21st -23rd of each month. 

Example Postcard: