A Small Town’s Big Leap into Smart Metering with HydroPro Solutions

Resilient Roots: The Spirit of Rose City

Tucked just east of Beaumont, Texas, Rose City is one of the state’s smallest municipalities, with a population of around 500 and only 230 water connections. Small town grit reigns true in this corner of Texas. Since its incorporation in 1973, the city has weathered not one, but two catastrophic floods—first from Hurricane Ike in 2008 and then again during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Each time, the residents rebuilt with quiet strength and unwavering pride.

Though the city doesn’t host large festivals or booming industries, its tight-knit community keeps things vibrant with small local gatherings and strong neighborly bonds. Many residents commute to surrounding areas for work, often in the oil and gas industry in nearby Beaumont. Within city limits, City Secretary Dora Tarbox carries much of the municipal load—including, until recently, reading all the city’s water meters by hand.

The Challenge: Aging Meters, Manual Reads & Lost Revenue

Before partnering with HydroPro Solutions, Rose City relied on an aging manual direct-read metering system. Dora, who already juggles billing and administrative duties, was personally responsible for walking the city and reading all 230 meters—a process that consumed two full days of work every billing cycle.

The problems stacked up:

• Outdated meters produced unreliable data.
• Flooding had damaged infrastructure, further reducing meter accuracy.
• Leaks went undetected, leading to significant water loss and lost revenue.
• Customer billing disputes were common due to inconsistent reads.
• Time and labor demands on Dora were unsustainable.

As the city grappled with population decline post-Harvey and shrinking revenues, something had to change.

Seeking a Better Way

Dora began exploring options after Rose City received a Covid grant, reviewing metering technologies that could modernize operations and recapture lost revenue. That’s when she connected with Teresa Pinyon, Account Manager at HydroPro Solutions.

“Teresa was very informative about the whole system and showed me everything. I just liked the way that system works,” Dora said.

The Solution: Allegro 4G Drive-By System from Master Meter

HydroPro provided Master Meter’s 4G Allegro Drive-By AMR system, a transformative solution that:

• Uses Harmony Encore software installed in laptop provided by HydroPro.
• Reads radio-equipped meter registers automatically as city staff drives by.
• Enables fast, accurate reads with minimal effort.

The upgrade was installed in just two weeks—much faster than expected. Dora shared,

“I was dreading it because of all of my other duties… but it went really fast, a lot quicker than I expected.”

⚙️ The Results: Time Saved, Revenue Gained

The impact was immediate and measurable:

• Meter reading time dropped from 2 days to 2 hours.
• Billing accuracy improved, leading to fewer disputes.
• Water leaks can now be detected, allowing the city to recover lost revenue.
• Customers have clearer usage data, cutting down on surprises.

“We’re going to make a lot more money. That’s for sure. I can already see the difference,” Dora said.

The community has also responded—sometimes with sticker shock from more accurate readings, but also with relief at finding leaks early and greater trust in the billing system.

Dora’s Advice? Don’t Wait.

“Don’t wait to do it. Jump on. They’re great, fantastic, and I don’t regret anything. It’s fast, quick, and very helpful. They’ll help you every step of the way. I recommend HydroPro 100%.”

She adds,

“The customer service is hands down the best. Y’all are very knowledgeable with the equipment. It puts my mind at ease anytime I feel like I have an issue—there’s going to be somebody who can walk me through it.”

A Partnership That Grows Beyond Installs

From Teresa’s perspective, this wasn’t just a client project—it was a relationship built on trust and shared commitment.

“It started out with basic info and turned into a friendship. Dora has been so happy with the ease of the system—she’s even referred us to other cities nearby.”

  Final Word

Rose City may be small, but their decision to embrace smart metering was a big step toward resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. And with HydroPro Solutions by their side, they’re proving that even the smallest towns can lead the way in modern utility management.