In its July 2022 application for federal funding, East Bay Municipal Utility District reported about 18,000 meters on advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) out of 395,470 in its system, about 4.6%. Residential meters, the District said, were read every two months.
A US$5.0 million expansion
A federal grant of US$5.0 million, awarded in September 2023, was to add seven collector towers and AMI endpoints on about 40,000 meters, in a project costed at US$18,908,753. Its performance period ended on September 30, 2026. Even with all 40,000 endpoints in place, AMI would reach about 15% of meters, and the design left about 16% of meters out of range unless a further 34 collectors were built.
What the pilots found
EBMUD told federal reviewers in 2022 that a quarter of customers in its earlier pilots showed continuous use indicating leaks, which accounted for 15–20% of total water use. Customers who received granular data and worked with the District cut use by as much as 20% on average, compared with customers on two-monthly bills.
Still buying for the old system
On May 26, 2026 the Board authorized up to US$382,720 over five years for automated meter reading route calculation software, which points to drive-by reading staying in use. Compliance is not the pressure: EBMUD reported real losses of 26.3 gallons per connection per day in calendar 2024, against a state standard of 44 that applies from 2028. Demand data matters for revenue too: FY 2026 billed consumption was projected at 135.6 MGD, against 143.9 MGD assumed in the budget.
Whether EBMUD commits to district-wide metering, how fast it can lift pipe renewal toward 30 miles a year, whether its 2030 carbon goal is realistic and how a capital program planned to be 49% bond-funded will be paid for are examined in the report. The full report, Water Utility of the Future: East Bay Municipal Utility District, is available for USD 499. For a free overview, read the East Bay Municipal Utility District Utility Snapshot.