Houston City Council unanimously approved an additional $5.5 million on Oct. 21 for Sensus USA’s advanced water-meter network, bringing the contract’s total value to $43.5 million. The city says the added funds are needed to cover higher equipment, material and operating costs and keep the system running through 2027.

Houston Public Works has linked long-running billing problems to aging meters and failed remote-reading devices. KPRC reported that about 30,000 meters have been replaced since 2024, with at least 300,000 still needing replacement; Texas Scorecard also reported the council’s unanimous vote and the project’s outstanding replacement work. The contract extends through 2030, and the department has said another funding request may be needed in 2027.

Sources: KPRC/Click2Houston: click2houston.com source ↗ ; Texas Scorecard: texasscorecard.com source ↗.