News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville’s pilot program to install automated gas reader meters has once again been delayed.
Gas Department Director Jeff Mills said the budgeted project remains without a start date.
“Unfortunately because of the situation that you just mentioned with the tornado and the COVID situation also, we have pushed that pilot program back
Mills said the project has been in the works for some five years. Mills said meter installation was also pushed back last year. Mills said the department has full intentions to move forward with work when the time comes.
“We will have contractors come in,” Mills said. ‘They will have to put the infrastructure in place, and then as it goes down the road, we’ll be doing it in-house changing people’s meters out. To get the ball rolling, we will have contractors come in.”
The new gear would send gas meter numbers straight to the department’s billing system. Mills said that same technology will allow customers to connect to the readers with a smart device to get live updates.
The original plan was to start the program with 50 homes across Cookeville. Mills said if the department is satisfied with the pilot program, then all meters will transition to the upgrades.
