I noticed today that the meter reader walked through the backyard and I had my windows open and it scared the crap out of me hearing someone opening my gate (I get the notices when they’re going to come, but I forgot). Is there any alternative to meter readers because it seems like such a tedious and hazrdous job with the dog bites, people sunbathing nude in their backyard, and walking around seedy neighborhoods. Why don’t they have automated things sent to a computer totaling my bill just like the phone bill and other bills I get? Why in 2004 must a guy physically walk in my backyard and read something on my house? I noticed this meter reader guy go back twice in my backyard because I guess he forgot to read or do something. He could be making mistakes for all I know. He went across the street and the neighbor’s pit bull almost attacked him. He walks with a limp too. He must have been bit or beaten by somebody while doing his job (just an observation).
You have a distinct, individual electric circuit connecting your phone to the local telephone office, which makes it easy for them to guage your usage. But no such thing exists for your electricity or gas; you’re pulling your supply from a bigger supply used by the community, so the best way to determine your usage is by measuring how much goes into your house.
That said, many utilities are slowly but surely replacing meters with newer versions connected to your phone line, which call up the Big Computer to report your usage. If the meter guy freaks you out that much, call your utility company and ask if those are available in your area.
Water meters in Long Beach, New York were changed over to an electronic type a few years ago. Not a phone hook-up, but a short-range radio signal that is read from the street. (Water meters are located inside the house, unlike electric meters.)
Oddly enough, with either system (eye-read or radio-read) my water usage always was a round number (4000 gallons, for example).
Sewer usage was listed as well, and I never saw a sewer meter anywhere.
We’ve got the same kind of thing for our natural gas meters - the meter reader just walks down the sidewalk with his magic reader-box, and gets the numbers.
Same here, and I suspect it’s because water is generally so cheap, it doesn’t pay to get overly precise about it.
In places that bill separately for sewer usage, they figure that whatever water you’re using is headed for the sewer, eventually, so the sewer bill is based on your water usage. In some places, they make some allowances for summertime lawn-watering and car-washing, and base the sewer usage estimate on your winter water usage, since water you sprinkle on your lawn isn’t going to end up in the sewer.
I used to read water meters for a small area for extra money. Water meters only read in 10 gallon increments and some read in 100 gallons. It would look like you use round numbers when you look at it. Charges are typically based on so much per thousand gallons so what you may be seeing is a rounded number as it wouldn’t change your amount due.
Sewer charges are generally taken as a percentage of your water usage.
As for the OP it is an extremely tedious and dangerous job. I’ve been bitten by dogs, chased by snakes, had gun pulled on me as I had to read a meter particularly close to a bedroom window… etc. I had to quit. It was just too much trouble for a small amount of money.
I’ve known a few people around here who had a second water meter hooked up to feed their sprinkler systems, the deal being that the water useage on that meter would not have sewer costs associated with it.
OK, I can see how dog bites and seedy neighborhoods would be hazardous, but are you therefore saying that nude sunbathers are tedious?
The average nude person in reality is not as attractive as the average nude person in fantasy.
Sweetie,
Another consideration is the cost of a remote read meter. The meter for a typical residential 200 amp service costs about $25, the types of meters that can be read remotely (either by radio, 802.11, phone line, etc.) cost upwards of $125 per; plus the cost of the infrastructure necessary to take advantage of the remote read capabilities. One alternate to the meter reader tramping around in your backyard would be to request the power company to install a remote dial. This is simply a small unit hardwired to the meter attached to the front of your house (or any other convenient location) that allows the meter to be read without entering your yard. The wire is generally tucked up tight under your eaves to keep from being unsightly.
Most people here that water a yard with city water have another larger meter installed for yard use. Almost have to… for the sewer fee is 2 times the water bill, year around. Myself, I live on a lake and have a pump in the lake for the sprinkler system.
At our farm, way out in the sticks, the electric meter has a built in transmitter, the meter reader gets the reading while driving down the road. We read the water meter and our natural gas has no meter for it’s free… so we don’t ever see a meter reader.
Hmm. Strange, here the opposite is true. The water meters are always on the front boundry line somewhere, and where possible on a corner with the adjacent neighbours meter beside it so the poor meter reader doesn’t have to stop twice. The power meter on the otherhand could well be under the house, around the back - pretty much anywhere.
DancingFool
Same in the UK. Water meters on the pavement ( sidewalk ) and electricity and gas meters in or around the house. In older properties the power meters are actually inside the house , sometimes in the cupboard under the stairs . Newer properties usually have them in the garage For the last few years , all new power meters are located in boxes , with external doors , on the front or side of the house.