Meter Watching For $$

K2

A year or so ago I mentioned i had a dead electric meter on a property. After nine months I mentioned it to the city and they changed the meter. No back charges.

Last month, on my house, I finally did some math and figured out I had an underground water service leak between the curb/meter pit and the house. The soil is all sand so it never surfaced. 250gal/day for 10 months = $500 in these parts.

Since matter is neither created nor destroyed i figure the city got their money back on the dead electric meter.

It's no wonder my dog hates the meter readers.

L. B. Condulet

So you used electricity you were not billed for and billed for water you did not use?

I think I speak for everyone here when I say that you should not have reported the dead meter...

K2

That's interesting because when i posted about the dead meter, (about two years ago), everyone said I needed to report the meter and that i was going to get a big retro bill and interest yada yada. Of course had i known there would be no charges i would have let it go a while longer thinking they could figure it out eventually..... I believe in some localities you would get backcharged but since ours are city owned utilities they seem to run by stricter rules.... I'd like to get my water money back though. I don't think that will happen.

Floordude

Around here, from the meter to your house is your responsibility. The city here will work with you, but you will have to pay for it eventually.

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K2

I just got my new bill and the water reading is down to where it should be but I found out the Wastewater is based on last January's water reading so that part of the bill won't get adjusted until this comming February. So I'll still be paying for the leak even though it is fixed for another 4 months,
(about another 100 dollars). I think I'll send my wife down to talk to them. They'll be sorry they didn't work it out with me.

Now I really wish I didn't tell them about the electric meter.

L. B. Condulet

How's your gas meter holding up?

K2

It spins to fast but i think it is because of this old steam system. I like steam heat though.

Michaeljp86

We use over 19,000 gal of water a month in the summer and the bill also has the sewer included and it came to $98.

Im not sure where all that water goes but the meter is in the basement so I can see if there is a leak.

K2

That's alot but if your irrigating lawns it's not. I have a couple of shallow wells for the lawn. I guess my leak helped keep he wells full.... I think about 150 to 200 gallons a day per person would be normal... I think the Southeast is finding out how to live on minimum water.

Michaeljp86

We fill sprayer tanks for the grapes off the city water. I havent drained lake michigan yet, maybe next year.

I know of some guys with pivot irrigation using a couple million gallons a day.