AMI Solution Enhances Efficiency And Boosts Customer Engagement

California water providers have been hit hard by climate change. As the state gets hotter and drier, its Department of Water Resources predicts a 10% reduction in water supplies by 2040.

To adapt to evolving risks and challenges, the City of Santa Barbara has developed a diverse water supply portfolio and has been a leader in water conservation since launching its first program in the 1970s. Currently, community water usage has dropped to the same level it was in the 1950s, even though the city’s population has more than doubled in the past 60 years.

Santa Barbara residents already have a conservation consciousness. As part of an ongoing commitment to enhance customer service, the City of Santa Barbara invested in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). This system, which is comprised of automated meters, communication networks, and software, collects hourly water use data over a secure, wireless network and delivers this information to customers much quicker than before, providing enhanced customer control. AMI is another tool the city has implemented for its residents to empower water-wise consumption and to improve operations to deliver water more efficiently.