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September 1, 2009
Wireless Water Meter Today
guy from DEP knocked on the door to install mandatory wireless water meter
Hes in the basement now installing
No real benefit for me that i can see (already had outdoor electronic water reader) but for the water company now i guess they don't have to send someone door to door so they save money.
Also i have a sinking feeling water bills are going to be going up with this thing
Comments
aledgedly they will read your meter every few minutes.
So maybe you can use it as a defense if there is a crazy bill - you will prove that you could not possibly get so much water in so short period of time.
Posted by: bobjohn at September 1, 2009 1:13 PM
That's odd. I had a notice about those meters & just assumed it was a blanket mailing & nothing to do w/ me since I have an outdoor wireless one too. There must be some reason they're going to all that expense.
Posted by: Arkady at September 1, 2009 1:39 PM
11211 - I'm actually a consultant for utility companies (specifically electricity) in the states. Currently, many companies are placing these new meters in order to get more accurate bills, no need for a meter man to go into your house, manage distribution, eventually get federal funding for more of these devices and most importantly you being able to see and manage your usage real-time (if its communicating with an exterior tower). I'm not too familiar with the water sector but in electricity the time-of-use and on/off peak usage rates are every popular.
Posted by: guikazoid at September 1, 2009 1:56 PM
Hmmmm, I never had a water meter installed because I hate the look of those outside boxes[and, of course, the original City contractor, Vanguard, was a criminal enterprise and the cause of a major municipal scandal]. After the first ten meterless years, I've paid dearly [twice the frontage charge] for the privilege. Maybe I should reconsider?
Posted by: Bob Marvin at September 1, 2009 2:01 PM
With some of the older wireless meters, someone had to drive by to get a reading. These most likely do not require that and are more accurate.
Posted by: BH76 at September 1, 2009 2:38 PM
quik, you think ConEd will get around to this in the next few decades?
Posted by: denton at September 1, 2009 3:10 PM
coned did this for me, uninstigated, several years ago. I have no remote readers outside anymore, rather the Coned rep on the street (or Coned remotely, not sure?) can remotely read my actual meters located in the cellar somehow.
Posted by: 1842 at September 1, 2009 3:21 PM
@denton - yes. its in the works
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Consolidated-Edison-Inc-NYSE-ED-1037548.html
literary EVERY utility company is requesting stimulus money for "smart grid". we just finished a smart meter pilot yesterday with our current client and theyre having us stick around a couple more months while we do analysis on customer usage, until the stimulus money is approved to further install smart meters.
Posted by: guikazoid at September 1, 2009 3:27 PM
Oooh, Con Ed one will be great. I went through a period of months where I got estimated bills from Con Ed because I missed the meter reader, and the website would reject my meter readings as 'invalid, not typical of prior usage patterns.'
My new water meter went in last week - good timing. I was just about to call the DEP and confess that my husband had cut the wire to the box accidentally while doing yard work.
Posted by: zeebee_in_bklyn at September 1, 2009 3:39 PM
I've asked ConEd but they charge for the installation of remote readers unless you're incapacitated in some way.
Posted by: Arkady at September 1, 2009 3:54 PM
FWIW Brooklyn Union Gas installed a wireless meter reading device in my house at least 25 years ago. I wonder why Con Ed is so far behind?
Posted by: Bob Marvin at September 1, 2009 6:44 PM
I actually got a small credit after it was installed. No charge for the water meter installation.
Posted by: daveinbedstuy at September 1, 2009 6:57 PM
OP - your water bills will be going up but not really because of your meter! They have been going up double digits every year.
Ideally, the new meters will allow people to manage their water usage better and to nip leaks in the bud.
Posted by: Back40 at September 1, 2009 10:25 PM
OP here,
yes there are wireless towers going up so they won't even have to drive by
Eventually they will make a website where you can log in and check your water usage daily if you feel like it.
Looking forward to the day when the electric and gas is wireless as well (those are the ones that are a pain in the but, not the water one which was already outside of the house). And hopefully not with 3 wireless boxes on the front of the house but just one that can send 3 signals.
Posted by: 11211 at September 3, 2009 1:37 PM
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