Chandler: More ‘monopoles’ collect utility data

For local governments, digital infrastructure means less and less reliance on humans reading analog dials and gauges.

The Chandler City Council approved a meter reading software and hardware program Aug. 14 that will take a step in that same digital direction.

By approving its consent agenda, council OKed a contract with Arizona West Builders and Communications, Inc. for “monopole tower services.”

The $400,000 contract is to install seven more monopoles, which will help collect some of the city’s 87,000 water meter reads.

Chandler’s utilities director, John Knudsen, told council that the poles will mostly be about the same height as streetlights, though without a light anywhere one them. The meters must be high enough off the ground to collect reads from meters within a 1- to 2-mile ra