• Asheville, North Carolina selects Mueller Systems to provide turnkey "smart water" metering program
CLEVELAND, NC, July 30, 2010 -- The City of Asheville, North Carolina has selected Mueller Systems to help it improve the efficiency and service of its water operations through the implementation of a comprehensive, smart metering water program.
Mueller Systems will provide Asheville with a turnkey solution, including installation services, project management, Automated Meter Reading (AMR) modules and water meters for 52,000 connections. Mueller Systems is part of Mueller Water Products Inc. (MWA 3.80, -0.02, -0.52%) , a leading provider of products and services used in water distribution networks and water treatment facilities.
"With our increasing awareness of the need to better manage our priceless water resources, it is even more important that we, as a conscientious municipality, accurately account for every drop of water that is treated and distributed through our system," said Brandon Buckner, superintendent of Meter Services for Asheville. "We believe that Mueller Systems brings the right solutions to the table to help us meet this rapidly growing need -- delivering innovative strategies, an ability to learn rapidly and adapt quickly to changing situations, and forward-looking vision along with a state of the art product in the Hot Rod AMR."
Mueller Systems' AMR system enables utilities to improve customer service while simultaneously increasing operational efficiencies. Mueller Hot Rod™ transmitters enhance utilities' ability to capture drive-by meter readings, and the open architecture of the AMR system component allows the solution to work with other brands of encoded meters that utilities may already have installed.
The Hot Rod AMR system also includes a comprehensive data logging feature that allows for six months' worth of hourly usage data stored at the meter, with graphically displayed alarms to enable utilities to quickly respond to customer questions and proactively approach customers about possible leaks or tampering. The Hot Rod AMR system also provides a seamless migration path from AMR to the Mi.Net™ Mueller Infrastructure Network for Utilities Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system as needs and service areas grow. The Mi.Net System is a communications network that fully automates the meter-reading-to-billing process, linking meters, distribution sites and control devices in a single, highly efficient data network.
"Our Hot Rod AMR system provides a high-performance solution to meet the challenge of communicating across rugged mountain terrain," said Jim Hendricks, area manager for Mueller Systems. The topography of Asheville makes transmission speed a particular need. "Asheville needed an AMR system that was fast, and our two-second transmission --- the fastest in the industry -- exceeded this requirement."
About Mueller Systems
Mueller Systems provides Smart Metering solutions to optimize the delivery and use of energy and water. Municipalities that supply electricity, water or gas -- or any combination of the three services -- need innovative ways to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, conserve energy and water, and improve customer service.
The Mi.Net™ Mueller Infrastructure Network for Utilities from Mueller Systems meets that need. For more information: http://www.muellersystems.com/aboutUs.html
About the City of Asheville
The City of Asheville is the largest city in Western North Carolina and the county seat of Buncombe County. The city is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is known for its natural beauty. Asheville serves as the regional hub for business, health and human services, the arts, shopping, dining and other community amenities for citizens and visitors. http://www.ashevillenc.gov/index.aspx
About Mueller Water Products Inc.
Mueller Water Products Inc. is a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of a broad range of water infrastructure, flow control and piping component system products for use in water distribution networks and water treatment facilities. The Company's broad product portfolio includes engineered valves, fire hydrants, pipe fittings, water meters and ductile iron pipe, which are used by municipalities, as well as the residential and non-residential construction industries for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire protection, industrial, energy and oil & gas industries. With latest 12 months net sales through March 31, 2010 of $1.4 billion, the Company is comprised of three operating segments: Mueller Co., U.S. Pipe and Anvil. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Company employs approximately 5,100 people. The Company's common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MWA. For more information about Mueller Water Products Inc., please visit the Company's Web site at http://www.muellerwaterproducts.com/.
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