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Smart Meters Modernize Downtown Parking

The City of Omaha is installing 400 smart parking meters.

Ken Smith, Omaha’s City Parking Manager, says smart meters have a credit card payment option and use solar powered technology. 

He says this well help the end user as many people don’t carry change anymore.  Smith says rather than risking a parking citation, individuals can use a credit card to pay the meter. 

Because the meters are solar powered, Smith says batteries will only have to be replaced every 3-5 years.

Right now, they are replaced annually.  He says there’s one other really nice feature to the new meters.

"The meter allows you to pre-pay.  The enforcement times start at 8:30 a.m. so if you have a meeting at 7:30 and you know you are going to be there past 9:00 or 10:00, you can go ahead and pay the meter and the time won’t start ticking off until the hours of enforcement begin at 8:30.  So you can put two hours in at 7:30 and it won’t click off until 10:30.”

200 smart meters will be installed around the Civic Center with another 200 in the Old Market. 

Smith says a second order of 600 smart meters will arrive the week of May 13th and will be installed in high usage areas.