Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for maintenance, support, and upgrade of meter testing software and updated hardware for Austin Energy with Radian Research Inc., for an initial term of one year with up to four 1-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $1,917,207. Funding: $1,427,961 is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Body
Lead Department
Austin Financial Services.
Client Department(s)
Austin Energy.
Fiscal Note
Funding is available in the Capital Budget of Austin Energy.
Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Procurement Language:
Sole Source.
MBE/WBE:
Sole source contracts are exempt from the City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program); therefore, no subcontracting goals were established.
For More Information:
Direct questions regarding this Recommendation for Council Action to the Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500.
Council Committee, Boards and Commission Action:
October 20, 2025 - Recommended by the Electric Utility Commission on a 9-0 vote with Commissioners Bellomy and Blackburn absent.
Additional Backup Information:
The contract will provide Austin Energy with continued maintenance, support and a software upgrade to its existing WATT-Net meter test data management solution which provides meter tracking, forecasting, and configuration. This software manages and tracks configurations and statuses of over 600,000 meters installed at customer premises or currently in inventory. The software upgrade will provide full meter asset lifecycle management including receiving meters, adding them to inventory, programming data requirements, deploying meters to customers, and collecting all associated meter attributes.
This contract will also include the purchase of updated electric meter test equipment that will be used to ensure all meters meet accuracy requirements per American National Standards Institute standards and Public Utility Commission requirements. The meter test equipment will modernize and unlock new meter test capabilities including testing multiple meters at once, increasing throughput, advanced testing to support generation customers, service switch operation testing, and radio verification testing.
The recommended contractor is the current provider for these services. The WATT-Net software and test equipment are exclusively available from Radian Research Inc. and are not authorized for resale by other contractors.
If a contract is not approved, Austin Energy’s ability to track, forecast, and configure meters in accordance with established operational standards may be impacted.
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Contract Details: |
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Contract Term |
Length of Term |
Contract Authorization |
|
Initial Term |
1 year |
$1,427,961 |
|
Optional Extension 1 |
1 year |
$122,312 |
|
Optional Extension 2 |
1 year |
$122,312 |
|
Optional Extension 3 |
1 year |
$122,311 |
|
Optional Extension 4 |
1 year |
$122,311 |
|
Total |
5 years |
$1,917,207 |
Note: Contract Authorization amounts are based on the City’s estimated annual usage.