Century Approves $56K Contract To Replace Gas Meters, Can’t Account For 28% Of Their Natural Gas

July 21, 2020

The Town of Century has awarded a contract to replace 283 gas meters in an effort to increase revenue due to improved billing accuracy. Last month, the town could not account for 28 percent of the natural gas they purchased for resale. That’s not due a leak; it’s due to billing and meter inaccuracies, according to town officials.

Florida Gas Utility received bids on behalf of the town, with only one bid submitted from Precision Meter Repair, Inc. of Plant City, Florida.

The council approved the purchase of new gas meters in early 2019 for a system with 615 connections. City staff and contractors replaced 265 meters during the winter of 2019, while the other meters remained in storage.

Precision Meter will now replace 283 meters and regulators at $160 each for a total of $45,280. Numerous meters will require a regular replacement at $38 each, with the contract allocating up to an additional $10,754. The company said it will take about 45 to 60 days to complete the job once they begin.

There are 67 inactive meters that will not be replaced at this time. They will be changed out when service is requested by the customer.

The meter replacements will be funded by Local Option Sales Tax funds.

In 2018, the town could not account for nearly 60% of their bulk purchased natural gas.

Comments

12 Responses to “Century Approves $56K Contract To Replace Gas Meters, Can’t Account For 28% Of Their Natural Gas”

  1. Jus me on July 22nd, 2020 9:23 pm

    Yes “David” allowed. The workers are more than capable and knowledgeable enough to install the remainder of the meters. The workers have to go by what the manager says. So if the manager says do not install the meters, we are paying someone else, then that is what the workers have to do. Who do you think installed the other meters? THE TOWN EMPLOYEES…

  2. David Huie Green on July 22nd, 2020 8:54 am

    REGARDING:
    “The leaders would get a thumbs up if they allowed the jobs to be performed by the employees instead of allowing the funds to be paid outside of the city.”

    Allowed?

    Years have passed, surely someone wasn’t stopping them all that time. Some things are critical but work doesn’t involve constant crisis. If they can’t do it, someone else needs to.

  3. Jus me on July 21st, 2020 5:15 pm

    The leaders would get a thumbs up if they allowed the jobs to be performed by the employees instead of allowing the funds to be paid outside of the city. I mean the employees are getting paid to do a job…. so let them do it. Then it would be 2 thumbs up. JS….

  4. Either Way is No Win on July 21st, 2020 3:08 pm

    So, if the problem is not fixed, Century hears it from the readers of NE.com.

    But, if the problem is getting fixed, Century still hears it from the readers of NE.com.

    At some point, a thumbs up has to be given when good things are going forward, even if it’s not exactly how you would do it.

    Thumbs up on this one, Century.

  5. Jus ne on July 21st, 2020 1:02 pm

    If they would let the gas deoartment put the meters in, They could save that $56k. Instead ole Vernon would rather pad the pockets of his buddies. COME ON COUNCIL, PULL THAT CONTRACT AND LET THE CITY WORKERS DO IT. If you do not not, then YOU are part if the problem as well.

  6. David Huie Green on July 21st, 2020 11:45 am

    They are doing much better since they have gone to not knowing where 60% of it went down to just to 25%. Every little bit helps.

    (I am assuming gas going into vehicles is metered and counted. I wonder if I am right.)

    David for better days

  7. Alan on July 21st, 2020 10:41 am

    Wow, William/North Escambia has been covering the Century Natural Gas story for years. How hard can this be to fix?

    615 connections! We are not talking thousands of them. If you verified 10 connections a day it would take 3 months of Monday – Friday normal workdays to look at all of them.

    I was under the impression that if your gas was turned off, the meter was removed. It might not happen for a month or two in case it was for lack of payment or changing from one renter to the next but if it was off for an extended defined period of time, it was removed. Century needs to be doing this. It doesn’t take much to pick a lock and turn the gas off as needed.

  8. Bag on July 21st, 2020 9:37 am

    I like they are gonna tax us for the fix. And the ones responsible for the mess carry on. Very sad

  9. judy on July 21st, 2020 8:47 am

    Enough gas bags in the city government to cover the loss of gas. SMH…

  10. tax payer on July 21st, 2020 8:33 am

    need to remove or replace those 67 inactive meters, or charge a fee for the meter being there, like ESP does

  11. George on July 21st, 2020 8:05 am

    How sure are they that those 67 “inactive” meters are truly inactive?

    Maybe they need to be double checking those also.

  12. sam on July 21st, 2020 6:52 am

    our city government is very similar to a leaky faucet. pitiful.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News