CS-G-SNX-11OH-0811-01-A

The Energy Cooperative • Newark OH • Sonix™ Meters

Case Study
The Energy Cooperative Finds Sensus
Sonix™ Ultrasonic Meters Measure Up
The Energy Cooperative needed a solution that could
effectively serve fluctuating demand and accurately
measure usage swings with minimal changes to the meter
setting. The economic and operational benefits of ultrasonic
metering technology became evident.

At 75 percent of the size of a standard residential gas meter, the Sonix

600 and 880 models are capable of measuring up to six-times the
standard residential capacity without piping modification.

The Energy Cooperative is a Solutions

“Sonix™ not-for-profit utility organization A long time Sensus customer, The Energy Cooperative
meters have with natural gas, propane and evaluated the capabilities of Sonix meters. The company
electric companies. Located then approved and began replacing high volume
improved our in east central Ohio, the diaphragm meters with Sensus Sonix 600 ultrasonic
cooperative has more than
operational 50,000 members in 10 counties
meters for residences that required increased capacity.
After more than a decade, the company rates its decision
efficiency.” and is one of the earliest
adopters of Sonix ultrasonic
as a success.
— The Energy Cooperative gas meters from Sensus. The “The biggest benefit ultrasonic meters offer is that there
Energy Cooperative has been are no moving parts, facilitating greater accuracy and
in the gas business for more than 75 years and has a lower maintenance requirements over the life of the
meter population that ranges from five to 50 years old. meter,” said Dave Detty, Gas Utility Manager of The
Energy Cooperative.
Like all natural gas utilities, The Energy Cooperative
uses rubber diaphragm meters that fill and empty a Sonix meters use digital ultrasonic technology to
set volume of gas. While diaphragm meters have been measure gas flow. In addition to eliminating mechanical
the leading gas metrology technology for decades, parts that can wear over time, these meters are
new consumer demand – such as pool heaters, back- significantly smaller and lighter than their commercial
up electric generators and other natural gas-fueled counterparts. The smaller size and weight is both an
devices – required the company to install larger meters at aesthetic benefit to homeowners and a safety benefit to
residential properties to meet high volume gas needs for installers.
relatively short periods of time.
Sonix features an all-electronic design that provides
The larger diaphragm meters worked well, but required extensive diagnostics, secure anti-tamper features, highly
additional modifications to the meter setting to ensure accurate temperature correction and integral pressure
accurate low flow measurement. compensation. The meters also retain their calibration

1
 and alert the company if they are tampered with or territory, to be followed by a larger scale implementation.
malfunction. And Sonix’ use of electronic transducers The company looks forward to continued benefits for
for flow measurement allows the meter to operate in any its residential and commercial customers by facilitating
environmental conditions without affecting its operation. communication between the utility and meters. “We
have been happy working with Sensus for many years,”
Finding Sonix to be a success for hundreds of these said Dave Detty. “Sensus Sonix meters have proven
special-use residential customers, The Energy reliable for our residential, commercial and industrial
Cooperative began a commercial meter replacement customers and improved our operational efficiency.”
program. The company’s commercial metering strategy
includes installations of Sonix meters, including models About Sensus
600, 880 and 2000, for approximately 2,000 commercial
Sensus is a leading utility infrastructure company
and 300 industrial customers.
offering smart meters, communication systems, software
Results and services for the electric, gas, and water industries.
Sensus technology helps utilities drive operational
As an early adopter of ultrasonic metering, the company efficiency and customer engagement with applications
has installed a variety of Sonix models to meet a that include advanced meter reading, data acquisition,
range of measurement needs. Sonix models are sized demand response, distribution automation, home area
based on capacity needs and do not require rebuild networking and outdoor lighting control. Customers
of the meter set, enabling The Energy Cooperative to worldwide trust the innovation, quality and reliability of
exchange the latest technology in place of old meters. Sensus solutions for the intelligent use and conservation
of energy and water. Learn more at www.sensus.com.
The Energy Cooperative continues installation of Sonix
meters for commercial, residential and industrial
customers and is finding additional benefits. For
example, they are able to thwart theft of service. e.
Previously, customers could tamper with the indexx
n
– or simply destroy it – and their usage information
would be impossible to gather for billing. With
Sonix meters, The Energy Cooperative simply
downloads the information to a computer and
issues an accurate bill.

Sonix meters are also providing The Energy

Cooperative significant improvements on
diaphragm meters such as low flow detection
and easier installation. Detty noted that
Sonix can be installed by one person, while
traditional diaphragm meters require two
people for installation.

The Energy Cooperative has also selected

Sensus’ FlexNet™ Advanced Metering
Infrastructure (AMI) system and is in the process s
rvice
of installing the system in areas of need in its service

Natural gas pool heaters offer quick, efficient heating but may require larger
volumes of gas than a standard residential meter can instantly deliver.
Sonix gas meters meet the demand without a large, intrusive footprint.

© 2011 Sensus. Sonix and FlexNet are trademarks of Sensus. The Sensus logo is a registered trademark of Sensus.
For more information, visit us at www.sensus.com/gas

2 8601 Six Forks Road, Suite 700

Raleigh, NC 27615
1-800-638-3748