This paper describes a meter reading productivity or incentive plan that the Tualatin Valley Water District (TVWD) implemented because of a need to be competitive. TVWD's search for a meter reading productivity or incentive plan grew out of a need to be competitive. This program required accuracy of reads, safety of readers, and prevention of strains or injuries, and needed a measurement for efficiency of the department. The utility wanted to maintain morale of current staff, increase meter reading productivity and plan for additional workload due to the growth of the District and increased work load brought on by providing service for neighboring districts. Development began by using an idea that a neighboring district had with a similar productivity pay program. TVWD decided to develop and implement a pilot program. At the time, a minimum average of 400 meters per day with 99.5% accuracy was in place. The new program offered a pay incentive for each meter read per day in excess of the minimum standard. To implement the pilot program, TVWD communicated expectations, program goals, and measurements to employees. We discussed the rotation of meter routes among readers. The newer residential subdivisions would be easier reading as compared to the older rural routes or commercial routes. A four-month review date was set to access the success or failure of the program, and it was found that the sliding scale payment method encouraged readers to slow down reading if they were at the top of a range near the end of the day. By getting input from the readers,TVWD was able to re-engineer the incentive and implemented a flat fee of $ .07 per read over the 400 minimum standard. Also from this feedback the payment period was changed to monthly rather than quarterly. Implementation of this incentive plan has increased the daily meter reading average from 305 to 415 per day. In the prime areas, the daily record is 1,515 meters. Many days are now in the 800-1,000 range per reader. Last year an annual amount of $10,000 was budgeted for this program. However, because meters are now read at a lower grade level $22.65 per hour as opposed to $29.04 per hour, TVWD has been able to lower the cost per read from $ .56 to $ .36 each. Productivity has increased. 17% more meters are read annually per person and the overtime has been decreased by 50+ hours per year in doing so. Staff morale has increased by separating reading from other customer service duties. Tualatin Valley Water District is able to perform meter-reading services at prices competitive with private industry. Includes figures.
