Logo courtesy of the City of Biggs

BIGGS, CA (MPG) – Biggs is moving forward with a citywide project to replace more than 1,500 aging electric and water meters with new technology.

The City Council selected Vision Metering Solutions LLC for the Advanced Metering Infrastructure project at a base price of $778,616. The system will automatically send usage information to the city’s billing software and help identify problems such as water leaks or electrical outages without waiting for meters to be checked individually, officials said.

City Administrator Nicolas Gauthier said the cost came in below what he expected when the city began seeking proposals.

“I am very happy with that number,” Gauthier said.

The city operates utilities serving about 771 electric customers and 735 water customers, with existing radio-read digital meters nearing the end of their useful life. Five proposals were submitted after the city sought bids in May. Two did not offer a complete turnkey project, leaving three for further consideration, officials said.

Gauthier said Vision Metering initially lacked some supporting materials, prompting several rounds of clarification before the company supplied the required information, including proof of bonds, insurance, contracts and other documentation rather than the substance of the proposal.

“They did deliver all those proofs,” Gauthier said.

Vision Metering was the lowest eligible bidder behind Aqua-Metric Sales Company. Eaton Corporation was deemed ineligible after declining to accept the city’s liquidated damages requirement.

The city also favored Vision Metering’s timeline. Biggs is targeting substantial completion by Jan. 15, 2027, while Aqua-Metric proposed finishing later in the year, Gauthier said.

The Biggs City Council at their Sept. 8 meeting allowed negotiations up to $895,000 to cover final refinements while keeping the potential total below the next responsive bid. Funding is included in the electric and water enterprise fund capital budgets, with no General Fund appropriation required, officials said.

Council members amended the action to require the completed agreement to return for final review before execution.

“We have everything we would need to feel confident to enter into contract negotiations,” Gauthier said.