Suspicious New Water Meters Causing Dramatic 2x-3x Spikes in Bills

joebrooklynian · February 2012

It turns out that there are numerous complaints of dramatic spikes in the amount of water people are being charged for, and a bunch of irate Brooklynites are demanding an investigation into the new automated meter technology. Anyone know anything about this, or having similar problems?

Councilman David G. Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) will be joined on the steps of City Hall by constituents who have experienced drastic increases in their water bills since the city installed automated meter readers, and City Council colleagues to demand an immediate investigation into such complaints.
Over the past few months, as more and more meters were installed in homes and businesses, Greenfield began receiving numerous complaints about bills for usage levels far beyond what a home typically uses. In some cases, residents have received bills that are two or three times higher than prior water charges.

This was supposed to save time and money, not take it away:

NEW YORK—Wireless water meter readings are now available online for many Brooklynites, and will go online for New Yorkers throughout the other boroughs by next month. The announcement of the new online capability on Monday was the culmination of 417,000 of the new meters, known as Automated Meter Reading (AMR) units, by the city’s Department of Environmental Protection.</p><p>“Before AMR transmitters were installed, our customers only received a bill every quarter—just four times a year. Now, our customers will be able to see reliable and accurate measurements of their consumption, and what it costs, at least four times a day” said a spokesman for the program Michael Saucier.
-via Wireless Water Meter System Goes Online in Brooklyn | New York City | United States | Epoch Times.

Where is the outrage?? The city Department of Environmental Protection should immediately launch an investigation to make sure residents and property owners are not being overcharged as a result of faulty new automated meter readers, according to Greenfield.

Who: Councilman David G. Greenfield, local residents and City Council colleagues.
What: Demanding an investigation into automated meter technology and complaints lodged by residents, especially in cases of dramatic spikes in the amount of water being charged for.
When: Monday, February 27, 2012 at 2 p.m.
Where: Steps of City Hall, Manhattan.

Has anyone else noticed any suspicious spikes in water bills?

pragmaticguy · February 2012

I notice Bklyn Boro Pres Marth Markowitz in the pic as well. This is a great way for the city to go to monthly billing and collect what's owed quicker and be able to lay off the people who read the meters. It's a win/win for them. As for the users....well maybe not so much as this should have been rolled out a little at a time. I wonder if all these meters use the same frequency and peoples' readings are getting combined. Remember what happened with old analog wireless phones and how you could listen in on your neighbor's conversations because there were only a few channels. Could be something like that happening here.

pmca · February 2012

I did notice my water bill that I received last week was significantly higher than it has been in the past. My last 4 quarterly water bills were about $300 each (roughly 36 HCF/qtr)and my last bill was for $443 (54 HCF).

armchair_warrior · February 2012

all my new meters gave super high water readings. i thought maybe they were more accurate.

joebrooklynian · February 2012

Today is your chance to protest:

New York – Councilman David G. Greenfield (D-Brooklyn) will be joined on the steps of City Hall this afternoon by constituents who have experienced drastic increases in their water bills since the city installed automated meter readers, and City Council colleagues to demand an immediate investigation into such complaints. Over the past few months, as more and more meters were installed in homes and businesses, Greenfield began receiving numerous complaints about bills for usage levels far beyond what a home typically uses. In some cases, residents have received bills that are two or three times higher than prior water charges. In response, Greenfield is asking the city Department of Environmental Protection to immediately launch an investigation to ensure residents and property owners are not being overcharged as a result of faulty new automated meter readers.
Who: Councilman David G. Greenfield, local residents and City Council colleagues.
What: Demanding an investigation into automated meter technology and complaints lodged by residents, especially in cases of dramatic spikes in the amount of water being charged for.
When: Today, Monday, February 27, 2012 at 2 p.m.
Where: Steps of City Hall, Manhattan.

Suspicious New Water Meters Causing Dramatic 2x-3x Spikes in Bills

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