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HOW IS YOUR WATER BILL FIGURED?

    Your water company has the responsibility to mail

you a bill for your water service at least every billing

period, which may be monthly, bimonthly or quarterly.

This bill will be based on either a meter reading or an

estimated reading.

The Water Meter & Meter Readings

At least every three months on approximately the

same date, meter readers are scheduled to read the meter at

your residence. Meter readers and utility service persons

carry identification, which you may ask to see for your

protection. Some water companies are reading meters

electronically from their office instead of sending a meter

reader to your residence.

The meter is the property of the water company.

You are legally prohibited from removing and/or tampering

with the meter. You are responsible for keeping the area

around the meter clear and easy to access. You may need to

restrain your dog or move objects that prevent the meter

reader from reading the meter. You have the responsibility

to provide access to the meter at all times. You also have

the responsibility to protect the meter from freezing and

from being damaged. If the meter is not in your residence,

it may be located in a meter pit on your property line. The

meter may have been installed in a pit due to the length of

your water service line or not having a proper location in

your residence to set a meter.

Estimated Bills

When your water meter is not scheduled to be read,

the water company estimates your bill. The estimate is

based on your previous usage history (your past meter

readings) and may be adjusted for existing weather

conditions.

Your bill may also be estimated when extreme

weather conditions, emergencies, strikes, or other

circumstances prevent the company from taking a meter

reading.

Another time your water bill may be estimated is

when the meter reader cannot gain access to your meter.

When this happens the water company still has a

responsibility to take an actual meter reading every six

months unless you supply your own meter readings. If you

supply the reading, the water company has the responsibility

to take an actual reading every 12 months. You and the

company have the responsibility to make arrangements for

meter readings if the meter is in a locked place. If your bill

has been estimated for several months, your bill may change

upward or downward according to the actual reading.

Supply Your Own Meter Readings

If you wish all your bills to be based on

meter readings, you may supply the company with

readings during estimated billing periods. Simply

request meter reading cards from the company, and

return them by the date listed on the card. The

water company’s local business office will also

provide you with meter reading instructions.

How to Check Your Utility Bill For Accuracy

If you think that your water bill is wrong,

you can check it in the following ways:

Read your meter if you question the

amount of service you have used. Your usage will

have increased between the time the water

company read your meter and when you take the

reading. For this reason, your reading will be

somewhat higher than the reading listed on your

bill.

Compare the bill to the one you received

at the same time last year to see if there is any

change in the amount of water you have used.

Remember to compare differences in usage rather

than differences in the total dollar amount of the

bills since changes in rates could cause an increase. 


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