Dear Cambrians,

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) meters measure water usage electronically at each service connection and transmit that information through a radio cellular transmitter to the District’s billing system. The physical water meter accurately and continuously records usage, just like a traditional meter, but with greater precision and automated reporting. The billing system does not measure water use directly; it relies on accurate data being transmitted and appropriately matched to each customer account.

Each AMI meter is paired with a unique transmitter identification number. This transmitter number must be entered correctly into the Tyler Technologies utility billing system so that transmitted usage data is matched to the correct customer account. If a transmitter number is entered incorrectly or mismatched during setup, the billing system may not recognize the incoming data even though the meter is recording usage accurately. In these cases, Tyler may display zero or unusually low consumption for one or more billing cycles, resulting in underbilling.

When transmitter number mismatches are corrected, previously recorded usage data becomes visible to the billing system. At that point, the system applies the accumulated water usage that had not been billed during earlier cycles. This can result in a catch-up bill that reflects the water actually used over prior months. The water itself was always measured correctly; the issue occurred during the data transfer and account mapping process between the transmitter system and the Tyler billing platform.

Approximately 100 out of more than 4,036 customer accounts were affected by transmitter number entry or integration issues during the AMI rollout. The vast majority of customers were billed correctly throughout the transition. District staff have identified the affected accounts, corrected the transmitter mappings, verified proper data flow into Tyler, and implemented additional validation checks to prevent similar issues in the future. Billing synchronization is now being restored, and impacted accounts are being brought current.

We recognize that some customers experienced lower water bills followed by catch-up billing once the issue was resolved, and we sincerely apologize for the confusion and inconvenience this may have caused. The meters themselves are accurate, and no water usage was lost or unmeasured. The issue was limited to the billing system integration, which is now nearing full resolution. Customers with questions or concerns about their bill are encouraged to contact District staff, who are available to assist and review account details.

Beginning Monday, December 22, through Wednesday, December 24, construction will be underway on Stuart Street as part of scheduled infrastructure improvements. Work will resume the following week from Monday, December 29, through Wednesday, December 31. While this work is necessary to maintain and improve critical community systems, we recognize that it is unfortunate timing and that it will result in noticeable construction noise within the surrounding neighborhood during normal working hours. Crews will be working as efficiently as possible to complete the work within the planned window and to minimize disruption where feasible.

This work will occur concurrently with construction activity associated with the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s Sustainable Solutions Turnkey (SST) project. Together, these efforts represent essential investments in Cambria’s long-term infrastructure and system reliability. We appreciate the community’s patience and understanding during this short-term inconvenience and will continue to provide updates as the work progresses.

The timing of this work is driven by the necessity to keep both projects on schedule and to complete critical construction activities before the onset of inclement weather. Winter weather conditions can significantly delay construction, impact site safety, and increase overall project costs if work must be paused or remobilized. Completing this work within the current window helps ensure the projects remain on track, reduces the risk of weather-related delays, and supports the timely completion of improvements that benefit the community as a whole.

If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Matthew McElhenie