Triarc Now Supplies Actaris Meters
Read a recent post on the BIf THree Meter Companies.
Research and Markets: the 'Big Three' Meter Companies - Elster, Itron/Actaris, Bayard/Landis & Gyr/Enermet - Form a $5 Billion Trio - 'Multi Utility Meter Report, Database & Directory Ed 6 2007' DUBLIN, Ireland--(Business Wire)-- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c81541) has announced the addition of "Multi Utility Meter Report, Database & Directory Ed 6 2007" to their offering. The meter market is in an expansionist and innovative phase. It is at a point of fundamental technological change with the introduction of advanced or intelligent metering. This has immediate consequences for new meters but it also has long term implications for the meter market because of the different service lives of mechanical and solid state meters. In this time of change and development the meter industry continues to attract investment capital. The meter suppliers have seized this opportunity and the global leaders have reinvented themselves with impressive speed. The 'big three' meter companies - Elster, Itron/Actaris, Bayard/Landis & Gyr/Enermet - form a $5 billion trio. They have consolidated further, acquiring technology and data management companies. They are no longer just meter vendors, they are providers of systems technology. They not only offer measurement devices but also the means to engineer demand and manage energy. The meter market is continuously unfurling new dimensions. The AMR market is surveyed and the convergence with AMI metering is discussed. Outline of the Report In this new edition of the Multi Meters Report we have expanded the coverage of the marketing profiles to look at some interesting new countries which are presenting growing opportunities but have been rather neglected in the past. These include large markets like Turkey, Iran, Vietnam and Indonesia which have not received much attention in the past. They also include smaller markets like Poland, and the Czech Republic where long established meter companies are looking to expand their export business and are making a bid for a global presence. The market profiles in the report are expanded to review 14 new countries in the electricity section, 8 new countries in the gas section and 4 new countries in the water section. The report now contains reviews of the meter markets in 29 countries (29 electricity, 22 gas and 19 water). The report seeks to identify meter suppliers which will assume increasing importance in the future. In an expanding metering market the incumbents must always monitor competitive threats carefully, especially when established technology is under threat from innovation. The meter companies are identified in two contexts; firstly with shares of the total market for all meters (electricity, gas and water) and secondly within the three individual segments. The list of meter companies has been greatly expanded with the identification of new companies in the global market. The report includes a discussion of the market drivers and detailed meter market surveys of the 29 largest markets in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Since the last edition of this report we have conducted a comprehensive review of the installed bases of electricity, gas and water meters and for the first time new tables of these figures have been added. New Market Issues The report outlines the start of the transformation of the meter business, especially in the electricity sector from simple metering, first to AMR with one way communication between supplier and customer and now to advanced metering with two way communications. The electricity meter report contains estimates of the installation of solid state meters by 2012, both standard and advanced. Two new issues have been identified in the gas meter market and will be investigated more fully in future reports. In some countries the LPG market is impinging on the city gas/natural gas market with consequences for metering. This is notably the case in Japan and Mexico although the circumstances are different in each case. Secondly, central storage of gas, supplied by tanker in countries without pipeline networks, is an increasing trend. End users have meters in the same manner as user of piped gas. Sub metering is becoming a more salient segment of the meter market but much less information is available for this sector. The report contains a brief introduction to sub-metering for the water sector ad this will be further researched in subsequent editions of this report. The report contains the following key information: Market analysis and meter types - Analysis of the installed base of electricity, gas and water meters by country - Analysis of meters by type- watt-hour meters: electromechanical/solid state, gas flowmeters: mechanical/turbine/orifice/ultrasonic, water flowmeters mechanical (volumetric/velocimetric)/electromagnetic/ultrasonic - Future trends of electromechanical/solid state meter deployment - Development of new electronic meter production in each sector; electricity, gas, water Market shares - Company mergers and consolidations - Global shares of top 39 meter companies - Sectoral shares of 23 top electricity meter companies, the top 10 gas meter companies and the top 14 water metre companies - The expansion of the Chinese and Japanese meter companies - Major new players identified, "the dark horses" from Turkey, Poland, the Czech Republic and Iran - Electricity meter company shares in EU - Electricity meter company shares - Market leaders in each sector (electricity, gas, water) identified in major markets - Credit and prepayment meters in the UK AMR (Automatic Meter Reading) and AIM (Advanced Infrastructure Management) - Survey of global AMR and deployment, analysis by utility sector (electricity, gas, water) - Development of advanced meter infrastructure - Future trends and deployment projections - Major AMR suppliers identified with market share for leader - Analysis of specific conditions for AMR in the water sector - Detailed surveys of 29 electricity meter markets with 14 new countries, 80% of the world market volume in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, , China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Iran. (New countries introduced in 2007 underlined) - Market surveys for 22 gas meter markets with 8 new countries in Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Turkey, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, USA, Australia, China, India, Japan, Iran. (New countries introduced in 2007 underlined) - Market surveys of 19 water meter markets with 4 new countries France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, USA, Australia, China, India, Japan. (New countries introduced in 2007 underlined) - Installed base of electricity, gas, water customers in every country - Annual meter demand for each sector in units and $ values in every country - Analysis on meter type for each sector (bulk or C&I, residential) in every country - Market trend globally and in profiled countries - AMR deployment and development and convergence with AMI - Type approval, verification and re-verification - Market participants in profiled countries - Utility background and market characteristics in profiled countries Tables and spreadsheets for electricity, gas, water separately containing: - Meter demand for each of 180 countries in units and $ value in each of 180 countries and consolidated for electricity, gas and water - Installed bases of electricity, gas and water meters in each country and consolidated - Current annual demand in units by meter type (bulk/C&I, residential) in every country - Market analysis by stock balance, imports, exports and demand in every country 2007 - Market size and forecast for each year from 2006 to 2012 for every country, units and $ value in every country - Historical export data from 1997 to 2006 in units, total $ value and unit value in every country Meter Manufacturing Companies - Major meter companies identified and consolidations and mergers outlined - Directory of 989 global meter manufacturers (572 electricity, 287 gas, 243 water) Metrology - Outline of global metrology institutions and standards, procedures for type approval and meter verification - Regional details and cooperation arrangements - Methodology changes which are driving meter market developments The Database The database includes: - The tables from the report listed above - Spreadsheet of exports by country of origin and importing country for the years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 The directory accompanying this report is in excel format and includes a list of 989 global meter manufacturers - listing where available address, telephone, fax and email. - The Multi Utility Meters Report is available to purchase as an individual product or with its accompanying database and directory. The database and directory can also be bought separately. Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager Copyright Business Wire 2008
Checking & Maintaining Your Water Meter
| Checking for Leaks |  |
City of Tigard water customers have meters that measure cubic feet of water used. To convert cubic feet of water into gallons multiply the number shown on your meter by 7.48.
An example: 004900 cubic feet x 7.48 = 36,652 gallons.
Water meters are never reset. To find out how much water you've used in any given period, just subtract the number of cubic feet used on your last bill from the current meter reading.
Looking at the meter you will see a red sweep needle. This needle turns like a second hand clock. Each time it goes around, one cubic foot of water (7.48 gallons) is used. Also the meter has a leak detection device on the face. This is a small triangle shaped dial that has no cubic feet value but will detect small flows of water through the meter.
Now, go do some checking:
Turn on the sprinkler and watch the meter dial move for 1 minute. Multiply the number of cubic feet times 60 for the quantity used per hour. Then estimate how long you usually leave the sprinkler running. This will give you an idea of how many gallons of water you use each time you sprinkle.
Wait for a member of the family to step into the shower and follow the directions above. You will know how many gallons are used for each shower.
For leak detection, turn everything off carefully so no water is being used anywhere in the house, then note the position of the meter dial. Look at the leak detection triangle for movement. Don't use any water and check the meter dial again after 20 minutes. If the triangle has not moved, you have a relatively water-tight home. If it is has moved, start checking hose connections, faucets, and toilets..
| Maintaining the Area around the Meter | |
Some things to keep in mind about landscaping:
- The meter should be kept clear of shrubbery, ornamental trees & low growing bushes.
- When planting trees take into consideration that tree roots can become entangled around pipes increasing the possibility of breakage on the customer side of the meter.
- Tree foliage can also become bushy, hindering the meter reader.
- Customers who already have established landscaping are encouraged to trim their plantings back from the meter box.
The next time you're working in the yard, take a few minutes and check out the area around your meter.
- Is it easily seen from the street??
- Do you have to push shrubs or tree limbs out of the way to get to it??
- Do you have to duck down or crawl to read it??
Brass thieves hit up hydrants for scrap
Matthew Barakat / Associated Press
McLEAN, Va. -- Dogs aren't the only ones casting a longing eye at fire hydrants these days. Fire departments across the country report that thieves are twisting the brass nuts off the tops and selling them for scrap, raising concerns that the hydrants won't work when needed most.
Firefighters responding to an April house fire in Hesperia, Calif., found that the five closest hydrants were useless because thieves had taken the nuts needed to get to the water. They called in special equipment, but by the time they got the fire under control, the house was a total loss.
"It definitely delayed us. It's become a real problem," said Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, whose firefighters now carry spare parts to access hydrants that have been tampered with, though using them can cost valuable time.
Brass parts are fetching higher prices at scrap recyclers, though a single hydrant nut is unlikely to be worth more than $10 even in the current inflated market.
Fire hydrants aren't the only target -- thieves have stolen brass ornaments from graves in Chicago and West Virginia, chrome-plated brass piping from men's bathrooms at fast-food restaurants in Pennsylvania, and brass plaques from churches in Houston.
But the hydrant thefts raise unique safety concerns. Officials in Prince William County in northern Virginia recently found that nearly four dozen hydrants had been stripped of their brass nuts, rendering them inoperable.
"This is an extremely high priority concern because of the potential devastation it can cause," said Assistant Fire Chief Hadden Culp. "We're not used to pulling up to a hydrant and it not working."
John Chalk, sales manager at Kennedy Valve in Elmira, N.Y., one of the largest hydrant manufacturers, said nearly all hydrants have brass nuts that could appeal to thieves.
Prices have doubled in the last six months and are about five times as high as in 2003, said Bruce Savage, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries.
Mark Zwilsky, owner of Potomac Metals Inc., said prices have been high in the last year or so, but still a five-pound brass hydrant nut would be worth only about $7.
The Return of Tanker Narc
From the Charlotte Meckdeck march 18th, 2008 by Jeff Taylor
Fire Hydrant Vandals
Officials with the Laurel, Mississippi Fire Department are concerned that some recent vandalism to the city's fire hydrants could pose problems when its time to save property or someone's life.
Fire Chief David E. Chance says the fire department reported to police the recent vandalism of several fire hydrants.
Fire Battalion Chief Alfred Jordan said the majority of the vandalism involves caps on the fire hydrants being stolen.
Chance says people don't realize the danger the thefts pose.
He says the missing caps "impedes the fire department process of getting water.''
Jordan says if the thieves remove the steamer cap from the hydrants, there's no way firefighters to use that hydrant.
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Information from: Laurel Leader-Call, http://www.leadercall.com
Stop Water Theft
A town in Virginia would like to enlist the help of its citizens in the prevention of water theft. Water theft is the unauthorized use of water from a fire hydrant. The thief could be fined as much as $2,000 and could be subjected to a $100 police ticket plus court fees.
Water theft harms citizens by threatening fire protection, putting water quality at risk, and possibly increasing water bills and water use restrictions. The Town is asking all residents and businesses to be on the lookout for any unauthorized activity surrounding fire hydrants.
Water theft is a continuing problem for the Town. For every offender we find, there are most likely several more that we have not found.