Nighthawk meters discussed, recommended
The replacement of the General Electric automatic meter reading system (AMI meters) by Nighthawk cellular technology was discussed at the Dec. 17 meeting of the Holly Springs mayor and board of aldermen.
Two employees with the city knowledgeable about the AMI cellular technology provided input during the discussion.
Nighthawk is an outside designs and manufacturer of Mesh-Cellular smart grid AMI solutions for the utility industry. The system offers advanced metering solutions for accurate energy measurement and enhanced utility management.
Nighthawk is a wireless two-way communication, critical for collecting use data with features which include remote connect and disconnect features.
Currently, the Holly Springs Utility Department is experiencing data collection difficulties with the GE AMI system, that was brought just over 8 years ago to collect usage data from electric, water and gas meters. GE experienced a data hack in August 2023 that contributed partly to the AMI system difficulties at the HSUD.
Richard Boga and Derrick Jefferson sat before the mayor and board to present features of Nighthawk, the pros and cons.
Boga presented the following points regarding Nighthawk:
• there is zero infrastructure as far as network and equipment, as does the 100- foot poles used to collect data on the GE metering system. No cellular towers are a part of the infrastructure.
• the task of linemen who have had to go maintain and repair the 100-foot collectors will no longer be needed, nor the trucks used to get linemen to the top of the poles. The employees and equipment will be freed up to perform other work.
• a scalable deployment of Nighthawk meters is available. HSUD would decide how many meters to purchase and when the utility wants them delivered.
• installment of meters can be done one route at a time or a pallet of 120 meters could be installed per shipment.
• the cost for a pallet of 120 meters is between $20,000 and $25,000.
• the meters can be read by either Verizon or AT&T or by a combination of both over the system.
• as a rule, in areas such as Hardaway Church Road or Laws Hill, HSUD is dependent on cellular meters working.
“That’s based upon how good their coverage is in that area?” Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel asked.
In these spots where you lose cell phone coverage, the Nighthawk should be able to collect the data for billing purposes if connectivity is sufficient that a text can be sent.
New Albany Electric has completely installed Nighthawk.
Boga said the cost of the
“Just minimal,” Boga said.
overall system, if Nighthawk replaces GE AMI meters is about $3.5 million and an annual fee of about $130,000 a year will be charged after the system is completely installed.
“It does have the normal bells and whistles,” Boga said.
The meters can be disconnected and reconnected remotely. Data can be gathered– daily, monthly, or yearly– at 15 minute intervals on the electric meters. Data can be collected daily on gas and water meters.
“Does that include maintenance of their end?” Ward 3 alderman Colter Teel asked.
Boga said it does include the cost to communicate the data to the Central Service Association in Tupelo on a yearly basis. CSA prepares HSUD’s bills.
“There is no trouble-shooting involved?” Teel asked.
“Just minimal,” Boga said.
Nighthawk will have their teams available if there are issues, as was done in New Albany, Boga said.
They helped New Albany with problems with Verizon and ended up switching over to AT&T, he said.
Boga said HSUD has used both Verizon and AT&T as providers for company cell phones.
Holly Springs Mayor Sharon Gipson asked Boga for his recommendation.
Boga said he recommends cellular because of issues with electric alignment in the GE system.
“That taxed our linemen over the years with the present (GE) system,” he said.
HSUD had to keep a truck and two linemen dedicated to go up on the collector poles to do maintenance on the GE system.
“That’s what my recommendation is based upon,” Boga said.
Vice-mayor Dexter Shipp asked if a test-run on the Nighthawk could be done.
Boga said a pilot test of 40 meters is available and costs $10,000 to install the meters and another $5,000 to integrate it with CSA.
He advised HSUD use Nighthawk resources to install the meters because of their engineering experience.
He said if HSUD does hire an outside company for the installation, the cost to install a meter could run as much as $25 per meter for the 12,000 electric meters or about $300,000. A separate company would do the installation, Boga said.
Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather asked why the project was not being put out for bids, a customary process for projects of this size.
Mayor Sharon Gipson said she asked Boga and Jefferson to bring the matter before the board.
“Excuse me, Madam Mayor,” Merriweather said. “We want to be privy and knowledgeable of what we are voting for and all choices. We have a process and based on that we want to make sure we make intelligent decisions as to what is best.”
Gipson said the matter has been under discussion for three plus years, going back to when general manager Donald Warren was at the HSUD.
She said the board has been presented the pros and cons of the different AMI systems and she asked Boga to make the presentation “in the light of what we’re dealing with right now in Jackson, Mississippi with the Mississippi Public Service Commission.”
Ward 1 alderman Bernita Fountain said she wants to know more about the financials, if the HSUD is not making it’s monthly tax equivalency payments.
“We’re not, and we’re stressing about making half payment,” Fountain said. “How are we going to be able to pay for this?”
City attorney Garret Estes waived his hands urging the matter be taken up in executive session to discuss the details.
General manager Wayne Jones raised his hand asking to speak, but was not allowed to speak. The matter was postponed for executive session.
Jones said later in his department report that he wants Atwell and Gent engineers to come in and review the situation and prepare requests for quotes or request for proposals to companies interested in doing the work.