#76 - Next Meters Is Making Smart Water Beautifully Simple

Ben Jarrett has spent his career around water, first as a professional bass fisherman, then in the boating industry, and now as a Regional Sales Director for Next Meters USA.

In this episode of The Clear Voice, Ben joins James Groom to discuss his unconventional career journey and the lessons he learned from fishing, competition, hard work, and conservation.

The conversation then moves into the challenges facing municipal water utilities. Ben explains how aging meters can miss usage, how hidden leaks can lead to unexpectedly high bills, and how smart water meters give utilities and customers faster access to accurate information.

They also discuss water scarcity, infrastructure planning, meter replacement, customer satisfaction, and the importance of selecting technology that employees can actually understand and use. Ben shares what communities should consider when moving from manual meter reading or drive-by systems to advanced metering infrastructure.

For Next Meters, the goal is simple: provide utilities with powerful technology while making smart water beautifully simple.

Chapters

00:57 Introduction and Ben’s Career Journey

03:02 From Professional Bass Fishing to the Water Industry

05:54 Work Ethic, Preparation, and Career Lessons

08:29 Meeting Your Heroes and Competing at the Highest Level

10:22 Conservation and Protecting Water Resources

12:07 Water Scarcity and the Role of Smart Metering

14:52 Finding Leaks and Water Loss Faster

16:53 Customer Satisfaction and Usage Awareness

21:13 Aging Meters and Lost Utility Revenue

23:36 Better Data for Rates and Infrastructure Planning

25:09 Moving from Manual Reading to Smart Metering

27:36 Implementing and Maintaining a Smart Meter System

31:10 Choosing the Right Metering Technology

33:25 Why Software and Usability Matter

35:58 Making Smart Water Beautifully Simple

40:41 Encouragement for Utility Professionals

Connect with Ben

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-jarrett-288969108/

Email: bjarrett@nextmeters.com

Phone: 903-387-3550

Learn More About Next Meters

https://nextmeters.com/

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