 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Volunteer Meter Program 
What Our Customers Are Saying About Their Water Meters"It really makes you a lot more conscious of the water you use when you’re paying by the gallon. It has changed the way we use water in our home" J.R., Sherwood "The motivation for me was definitely saving money. While there were some costs upfront, our water bill has gone down about 20%". Mark Robertson, Brighton "The greatest thing for us was the savings, we’ve saved about $100 this year. I let other people know how well it worked out for us and that it might for them as well" C. Bell, Charlottetown "We wanted to make the switch to a meter because we thought it was a great way for us to take responsibility for the water we use. Paying less was a bonus, and we did save about 25% less on our water bill last year" The Wilsons, Downtown Charlottetown "Even without making significant changes in our habits, we did save nearly $100 in the first year. We have lots of family visiting over the holidays but it still didn’t impact negatively on our bill" Craig Walker, West Royalty About the Program
In the spring of 2010, bylaw amendments were finalized that require that water meters be installed on all new water service connections. The option became available for existing single-family residential customers to switch to a metered rate from the flat-rate. This change came in response to feedback from our customers that wanted to have more control of their water bills. Press release 2010-02-08 City standardizes Water and Sewer rate methodology The City of Charlottetown has implemented a Volunteer Water Meter Program targeted at single-family homes that are billed at a flat-rate for sewer and water service. With water meters, residents pay for the amount of water they use, which makes them more conscious of their consumption. This not only helps residents save money, but research has shown that it reduces overall water consumption and promotes a sustainable lifestyle. With a water meter you can control how high your water and sewer bills are by the amount of water you use. When you reduce your water use, whether it is from going on vacation or installing low flow toilets, you will see a difference in your water bill. For more information see below or Contact us Frequently Asked QuestionsIf I am a flat rate customer how much do I pay? If I switch to a metered rate how much will I pay? Will I save money by switching from the flat-rate to the metered-rate? What do I do if I want to switch to the metered-rate? How much will it cost to have the meter installed? Once the meter is installed, then what? How does the Utility read my meter? Once metered can I switch back to the flat-rate? How can I lower my water and sewer bill once I am metered? 
What is a water meter? A water meter is a device attached to your water connection that measures the amount of water that comes into your home over time. If I am a flat-rate customer how much do I pay? Your annual bill includes a fixed water service charge of $182.60 and sewer charge of $297.78 for a total of $480.38 per year (2010). This is payable in four equal payments due every three months. Press release 2010-02-08 City standardizes Water and Sewer rate methodology If I switch to a metered rate how much will I pay? Like the flat-rate bills a metered bill includes a fixed water and sewer service charge. It also includes a consumption charge that is based on your meter readings. You will receive a bill from the Water and Sewer Utility every three months that includes both the fixed charge and consumption charge. The fixed water and sewer service charge is $80.67 and your consumption charge is $0.788/cubic metre of water used. On an annual basis you will pay $322.68 for water and sewer services plus a fee based on your annual consumption. Will I save money by switching from the flat-rate to the metered-rate? That depends on your household and the water you use. Customers most likely to save money are those with a small number of people living in the house, 1-3 people. Those who are water conscious and make an effort to conserve can also save. If your house is unoccupied for longer periods of time throughout the year – if you live somewhere else in the winter or during the summer months – you will most likely see a decrease in your water and sewer bill. What do I do if I want to switch to the metered-rate? If you want to switch to the metered rate you can call the Water and Sewer Utility at (902)-629-4014 or come in to the Water and Sewer Department located at City Hall, 199 Queen St., Charlottetown, PE. You will need to fill out an application form and set up a time where the water meter can be dropped off to your house. You may be able to install the meter yourself or you can hire a plumber to have the meter installed. We can talk you through this process. There is no fee to switch to the metered rate. How much will it cost to have the meter installed? That depends on your plumbing system and the plumber you hire. In some cases it will be a very simple process where the water is momentarily turned off while a section of pipe is removed and a new section with attached meter is connected. In other cases, where the pipes are not easily accessed or the meter will require re-fitting the pipes, the installation costs will be higher. Once the meter is installed then what? When the installation is complete just give us a call at (902) 629-4014 and to set up a time when we can inspect the meter to ensure that it is in the correct position, working properly and to seal the meter. When all the paperwork is complete and submitted the water billing department makes the necessary changes to your account. How does the Utility read my meter? The meter installed in your home has a remote component. This means that our meter readers can take a reading by remote from outside your home. The meter reader will not need to come into your home to take this reading. Can I read my meter? If you want to keep track of the amount of water you are using between bills you can do so by monitoring your meter readings. Click below for more information. Once metered, can I switch back to the flat-rate? No, once the switch has been made it is permanent. The Utility is moving towards complete metering of all water connections and this is a step in that direction. How can I lower my water bill once I am metered? To reduce your water bill you need to lower the amount of water you use. There are many simple changes that you can make on a daily basis that will result in water and money savings. See below for water conservation information and tips |
 |
 |
 |
