Company Offers Flexible Fixed Network Meter Reading System

Neptune recognizes that no single approach can address the wide range of needs of a water utility, so the company created a system that allows utilities to implement a hybrid approach to meet their data collection needs.

The company's EZNet Fixed Network System automatically collects, stores, and communicates meter reading data to a host software application located in the utility back office. The system is designed to strategically collect meter reading data from "high value" commercial/ industrial accounts and can be deployed as a stand-alone system or operated in conjunction with Neptune's handheld and/or mobile meter reading systems as a hybrid automated meter reading solution. This allows the water utility to monitor the usage of its most critical customers on a daily basis and respond to customer issues in a cost efficient manner.

The EZNet host software is Windows-based. It is designed to interface with EZRouteMAPS™ and EZDrive software applications, facilitating hybrid system architectures and system migration. The software also incorporates a flexible interface to CIS/billing systems. Utility staff can monitor the usage for any selected customer on a daily basis. The software can generate reports to show usage patterns from monthly to hourly intervals. Other reports can show hourly water usage data. This feature helps utilities understand and respond to customer inquiries.

The EZNet System collects meter readings from Neptune R900 Meter Interface Units (MIUs) via EZGate data collectors. The collectors use cellular telephone or landline telephone Wide Area Networks (WANs) to communicate with the host software. The system can be installed in any number of installation configurations and can use either a 110v power supply or solar panels.

The EZNet System is comprised of two key components; the EZGate data collector units and the host software. The EZGate units obtain meter readings from MIUs that read the encoders and transmit data using Neptune RF protocol. They receive and store the data, then transmit the information daily to an ISP server in an e-mail format. The host software retrieves the data from the ISP server and deposits the data to the database. Readings are then transferred to the EZRouteMAPS software according to the utility billing schedule and uploaded to CIS/Billing software.

The EZNet software stores up to 96 meter readings per day. The host software can download information on demand by contacting the EZGate unit directly. This allows the utility to obtain the latest meter readings from a particular meter if required.

The EZNet System builds on Neptune's core beliefs that meter reading systems must be migratable and must operate in a hybrid environment. The company's hybrid approach allows the utility to choose the best technology for a given application and coordinate them all within a single system.

For commercial and industrial customers who require more frequent data collections, utilities can deploy Neptune's EZNet targeted fixed network in parallel to a Neptune mobile data collection system to create a hybrid system.