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Pandemic Pauses Century’s Natural Gas Meter Replacement Plans
April 26, 2020
COVID-19 has put the brakes on Century’s plan to replace natural gas meters in an effort to increase natural gas billings and curb losses.
Interim City Administrator Vernon Prather said they are not able to replace residential gas meters during the pandemic because the process requires going inside a customer’s home to verify that pilot lights are on and everything is safe.
In 2019, the town undertook a systematic approaches to auditing natural gas accounts and replacing meters. By early this year, audits had uncovered at least a half dozen locations that were not in the billing system and over two dozen meters that had stopped working.
At the first town council meeting in March, Prather recommended that the town hire Precision Meter Repair (PMR) of Plant City to replace 400 residential meters at $160 each. They would have been able to install 400 meters in a matter of weeks.
Florida Gas Utility, which provides natural gas consulting service to the town, obtained three quotes to change out the meters ranging from PMR’s $160 to a high of $1,000 each, Prather said.
The town council was not completely satisfied that would meet state bid laws, and tabled action until compliance could be determined.
The town purchased hundreds of new meters in early 2019 to replacing aging meters believed to be causing the under-billing of many natural gas customers. At of early March, 15 commercial and about 200 residential meters had been replaced.
Comments
12 Responses to “Pandemic Pauses Century’s Natural Gas Meter Replacement Plans”
REGARDING:
“The gas office was closed when I got home so I couldn’t call them. I am NOT buying the pilot light excuse.”
You agree that s what SHOULD be done, yes?
David for jobs done right
They had no problem replacing my meter on Christmas Eve and they didn’t come inside to check the pilot lights or to make sure my home “was safe”. They never mentioned anything to my disabled son who was home at the time either. When I got home from work I had to turn the pilot on to the stove and furnace and thank God the weather was warm because the pilot switch knob was broken on my furnace and we couldn’t get it repaired until the day after Christmas because of the holiday. The gas office was closed when I got home so I couldn’t call them. I am NOT buying the pilot light excuse.
Something has to got to give with this gas service utility—
This is serious.
@
Howard Smith
thanks for that comment.
Is liability going to stop the world in it’s tracks.
Perhaps the town should consult their attn and see if a government employee has more legal protection, as in sovereign immunity from lawsuits or something
What a mess..
I wonder if they thought of that. You can’t have the mindset of wait until this goes away.
They could be calling emergency council meetings via phone and really solve problems
How about that council president?
“Y’all need to wake up and see the big picture.” in other words, drink the kool aid.
All, contractor is not coming into anyone’s home and assume liability for Covid. Y’all need to wake up and see the big picture.
Exactly sounds like an excuse. Are we going to have to come down there and kick butt and take names..Gheez I’ve had too much coffee.
I live here and am not on gas but you letting that department bankrupt the incorporation is effed up.that means..well you know..
That is unacceptable. Don PPE and get the work done. Continuing to lose public dollars is illegal called malfeasance. No excuses (That means personal protective equipment)
Municipal services and delivering the product in a professional and safe way don’t get a pass even during a state of emergency. Does the declaration lend the ability to apply for more funds and relief.– perhaps federal $ or state? Get smart. Figure it out, I know you can,
so why wasn’t that contract worked out. GWTP. (that means get with the program)
The stay at home order is not an excuse.
IMHO (That means) In my humble opinion
We all have one.
Well we all know that if the meters are replaced with working units, people will actually have to start paying for gas. With Century, it’s one sorry excuse after another.
What a bunch of bologna. It isn’t rocket science. You wear a mask and gloves and disinfect the appliance before and after plus anything you may come in contact with. You place a social distance marker and get it done and leave.
Myself and other reputable appliance servicers do it daily on every call as it should be. Reads like a stall tactic.
Perhaps Century’s workers don’t know how to use masks, gloves and hand sanitizer, but I find that doubtful. So what might be the REAL reason for the delay??
Word to whatever group is bidding for anything in the Town of Century.
“Get paid UP Front”
Good Golly, Miss Molly, can things that are GOOD for the little town Ever go without huge roadblocks?