Meter Exchange Services

Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC (PPS) partners with utilities to fulfill all meter-related requirements of their internal programs. With services ranging from AMR/ERT exchange to highly sensitive bypass jobs with high profile customers and metropolitan area to complex relights, we have been relied upon by clients in the Tri-State area for their most sensitive and high-volume work.

Active Service Offering

Program Meter Exchange: Class 50 to 38M and Turbines
AMR/ERT Installations
Scheduling Appointments & Mechanic Dispatch
Bypass and CNG “Bottle” Jobs
Oil-to-Gas Conversions / New Business
New Service Turn-Ons

Emergency Response
Leak & Odor Response
Customer Relights
Service Disconnects
Meter Set Leak Survey & Repair
BOPA, Vault & Main Valve Inspections

PPS Personnel

We deploy in teams to meet the criteria of our customers. With crews ranging from one to multiple mechanics our staff is trained in a tiered structure of technical complexity and are dispatched to jobs which fit their expertise. PPS mechanics possess mechanical skills with plumbing and gas experience. These individuals are organized and self-motivated to be high efficiency and thorough workers.

PPS Equipment & Tooling

All mechanics carry the standard toolkit which includes hand tools, gauges, and communication items. Specialty crews are outfitted with additional meter handling gear for large scale jobs as well as the necessary equipment for CNG bypass jobs. Vehicles include cargo vans, box vans, pick-up trucks and SUVs, all customized to fit meter exchange and/or emergency response purposes.

PPS Methodology

Each PPS mechanic is dispatched a work order which could be either a pre-scheduled appointment by our internal dispatchers or work off a list of cold-calls. Each mechanic organizes their work day in a sensible geographical route and upon arrival makes customer contact, and then gains access to the meter, verifies meter information, performs the necessary tasks, relights or red-tags as necessary, enters the exchange information into the portable tablet device including photographs, and leaves the site in at least as good condition as when arrived.

PPS Safety

PPS maintains a company-wide safety program, with many specific safety initiatives focused on the high risk areas of the work day. Field Managers complete Tailboard Talks discussing ways to be alert and mitigate typical and environment-specific hazards, and each mechanic is issued a standard kit including PPE, fire extinguisher, and traffic/vehicle protection. In addition, mechanics not working in multi-person teams on one site follow a safety contact communication chain with the field supervisors.

PPS Quality Control & Quality Assurance

SONY DSC

PPS maintains a multi-layer approach to Quality: 1) Personal Accountability of each mechanic, 2) Project-level Quality Control performed by supervisory personnel, and 3) Company-level Quality Assurance.

A key characteristic of each PPS employee is to be accountable for one’s own work and to hold the work to the highest personal standards. We accomplish this through maintaining a quality-conscious culture that operates as an extension of in-house utility forces. Each mechanic completes documentation (paper or digital) after each job; these documents provide a step-by-step walkthrough of the job and are signed off by the mechanic.

Supervisory personnel perform Quality Control (QC) activities for their teams that include random spot checks, process audits, documentation audits, and verbal knowledge-based assessments. A checklist is used to document the findings of the QC program and enables the supervisors to objectively assess and measure the ability of each mechanic.

Company-level QA performs knowledge-based assessments, manages training cycles, and reviews program procedures. QA also audits a sampling of job documentation and the QC checklists at the start of any new engagement.

PPS Emergency Response

We take a very structured yet flexible approach to Emergency Response Management (ERM). Our active services range from on-call odor responders to full-scale deployments due to natural disasters, major storms, or other abnormal events. Our Field Managers double as ERM supervisors coupling their knowledge of gas systems with the level headedness of situation controllers. We create a client and/or situation specific guidebook to outline the response including command and control, communications, staging, staffing and equipment, each facet designed to bring swift resolution to the situation and minimize risk to the customers.

PPS Data Management

High Efficiency and Accuracy is directly tied to the effective use of technology in today’s fast paced work environment. PPS has found that utilizing custom software on the Android platform for use with Tablet handheld devices can deliver the results necessary to manage, track, schedule, and report field information in batch or real-time basis; this is critical step to success of any large-scale program. As an integral part of being fully turnkey, our team links to client systems and feeds information through our dispatcher to field teams concerning work orders, and our mechanic turns around all the necessary exchange information in a fully paperless system. The software reduces human error by utilizing data validation and eliminates double-data entry on the client’s side by sending the information back to the client’s systems.

Meter Reading

Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC (PPS) partners with utilities to compliment internal customer service staff to complete high volumes of meter reading, collection, disconnect, and other support services. Our staff are experienced utility personnel, trained to meet your needs in a highly effective manner.

Active Service Offering

Gas & Electric Meter Reading
Customer Service Disconnects
Collection Services & Turn-Ons
Storm Response Support
Contingency Support

PPS Personnel

During training, our personnel are equipped with the technical utility knowledge, navigation, and customer service skills required to successfully complete routes in a highly efficient manner.

PPS Advantage

The PPS Advantage is that our meter readers can seamlessly integrate with our Meter Exchange business unit for exchanges, repairs, ERT / AMR installations, coatings and other value-add services. Our meter related services are complimented by our technical expertise in pressure control, coatings, and compliance inspections; we’re not just here to read meters, but the continued regulatory compliance of your infrastructure.

PPS Safety

Personnel wear PPE and operate according to a Health & Safety Plan which is created by PPS and approved by the client. Our fleet is deployed to reflect and uphold the image of the utility client we are serving as well as give customers a sense of ease when we enter their property. Our vehicles are equipped with identification, beacons, “Vehicle makes frequent stops” signage, a fire extinguisher, and first aide kit.

PPS Quality Control & Quality Assurance

PPS maintains a multi-layer approach to Quality: 1) Personal Accountability of each reader, 2) Project-level Quality Control performed by supervisory personnel, and 3) Company-wide Quality Assurance.

PPS Storm Response

Our company was founded to provide the utility industry with technical services and support all major aspects of your operations. Damages caused by storms and other natural disasters are an inevitable part of operating a utility system. Our meter reading personnel have responded to assist contract, utility, and PPS crews to investigate trouble calls and report back to open work orders, flag for tree-trimming and electric crews, and distribute emergency relief supplies to customers.

Meter Disconnect Services

Precision Pipeline Solutions, LLC (PPS) completed Credit Meter Disconnect Services for Northeast Utilities System in 2009. PPS workers performed gas meter shutoff activities for non-payment on locations previously deemed trouble or inaacessable. A typical Disconnect Service included contacting the customer, accessing and disconnecting the meter (pie-plate and lock) and completing paperwork.

PPS Personnel

At the peak this scope of work employed twenty PPS mechanics. PPS mechanics possess basic mechanical skills with plumbing and gas experience and these individuals are very organized and self motivated. In addition to general leadership skills, PPS Meter Disconnect supervisory personnel are extremely well organized and can effectively zero in on efficiency and logistical issues.

PPS Equipment & Tooling

The basic tool set of a Disconnect Mechanic includes an assortment of pipe wrenches, adjustable wrenches and some other general tooling items. Each mechanic carried a high powered LED flashlight for use in dark basements. Mechanics were provided with cargo-style vans marked with the PPS logo.

Methodology

Each PPS mechanic was issued nearly twenty work orders daily. Each mechanic organized their work orders in a sensible geographical route to begin the day. Upon arrival, the mechanic made customer contact; gained access to the meter; verified the identification of the meter; performed the work efficiently; reviewed the completed activities and then completed the necessary paperwork prior to mobilizing to the subsequent local.

Safety

Each mechanic was issued a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, safety vest, hard hat, and safety glasses and these items were inspected by the supervisor daily. Tailboard talks were held in the mornings and afternoons to address topics of concern. During these talks, each mechanic was granted the opportunity to speak openly about their own concerns and experiences. These talks were instrumental in the distribution of useful safety information and promoted a safe working environment.

Quality Control

The Supervision personnel performed Quality Control (QC) activities for the group that included random spot checks, process audits, documentation audits, and verbal knowledge-based assessments. A checklist was used to document the findings of the QC program. This checklist enabled the QC inspector to objectively assess and measure the ability of each mechanic. Each mechanic was also given a document that was to be completed at the end of each meter disconnect. These sheets provided a step-by-step walkthrough of a basic job and included all of the critical steps that must be performed at every location. The mechanic would fill this sheet out as the job progressed and sign off on the fact that the job was completed correctly. These sheets as well as the QC checklists were then randomly audited by our corporate based QA team.