Aging infrastructure, rising operational costs, increasing climate volatility, and growing customer expectations are all placing new demands on distribution systems that were never designed for this level of complexity. To handle it all, utilities need more than accurate billing — they need real-time control, actionable insight, and the ability to respond quickly to changing conditions.
These demands can only be met using the most advanced residential electromagnetic (electromag) meters available today. By combining highly accurate metrology with remote flow control through a three-state ball valve and embedded sensing, the Sensus ally™ meter is giving utilities a level of visibility and responsiveness that other meters simply cannot provide.
Gaining Control At The Residential Endpoint
What sets the ally meter apart from all others is its remotely controlled, multi-state ball valve. This capability gives water utilities direct digital control of water flow at the customer endpoint without sending personnel into the field.
Remote flow control supports a wide range of common and emergency use cases. For example, utilities can shut off service immediately in response to high-flow alarms indicating a potential leak or burst pipe, helping to minimize property damage and water loss. For seasonal homes or unoccupied rentals, service can be proactively managed to reduce risk.
The ally meter’s three-state valve — open, closed, and reduced (trickle) flow — adds an additional layer of flexibility. Reduced flow provides enough water for essential needs while signaling that action is required. This middle-ground state provides a practical alternative to full shutoff, and reflects a more modern, customer-conscious approach to service management.
While non-payment is one application of remote shutoff, it is best understood as a supporting benefit of broader operational control. By digitizing what were once manual, labor-intensive processes, utilities can eliminate truck rolls, improve staff safety, and restore service in seconds rather than days — all while improving overall customer experience.
Built For Resilience In An Era Of Uncertainty
Extreme weather events are increasingly common. Freezing conditions can occur in areas historically unaffected, while hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves place increasing stress on distribution systems. This is when speed and scale matter most.
An ally meter allows utilities to remotely shut off thousands of services within minutes when disaster strikes — a task that could otherwise take weeks. This helps prevent cascading damage, preserve system pressure, and support faster recovery.
Integrated temperature sensors further strengthen this. When freeze conditions are detected, utilities will get an early warning that allows them to investigate, alert customers, and/or shut off service before pipes burst. This enables the meter to act as an early detection device, not just a measurement tool.
Network Intelligence Where It Matters Most
Limited visibility into distribution system conditions remains a major challenge for many utilities. The ally meter addresses this gap by combining the patented electromag metrology used in Sensus’s iPERL+ with built-in pressure and temperature sensing at the residential endpoint.
Pressure monitoring is essential for detecting and reducing non-revenue water (NRW). Many utilities over-pressurize their systems to ensure adequate service at the farthest tap. But this can increase leaks, breaks, and pumping costs. Having detailed pressure data from endpoints enables utilities to optimize system pressure without compromising service. Customizable high- and low-pressure alarms allow utilities to further tailor response strategies based on local conditions. When multiplied across thousands of endpoints, these improvements translate into meaningful operational and financial benefits.
Operational Efficiency Beyond Manual Processes
Although ally meters are designed to meter at residential endpoints, their capabilities deliver value beyond the home. For example, the ally meter allows utilities to remotely schedule targeted flushes through the remotely controlled ball valve at each residential endpoint. In addition, operators can measure exactly how much water is used, something not possible with manual or timer-based devices. This lets utilities control flushing volumes based on actual system demand, reducing water waste, optimizing staff time, and improving water quality outcomes.
Why Utilities Need This Level Of Control
Today’s water utilities can’t afford to operate reactively. Customers expect reliability, regulators expect accountability, and extreme events require rapid response. For infrastructure investments expected to last 20 years or more, utilities need solutions that deliver long-term value, adaptability, and resilience.
By combining advanced electromag metrology, unique multi-state remote flow control, and real-time pressure and temperature intelligence, the Sensus ally meter delivers capabilities that other residential meters simply can’t match. This level of control is not a nice-to-have but rather an essential feature for utilities striving to operate efficiently, protect their communities, and maintain public trust.