Oklahoma City Water Department has been billing a client for consistently high usage that doesn't match their operations. Usage jumped 40% last year with no operational changes. The city says their meter is fine but I'm suspicious. Has anyone had success with independent meter testing? What does it typically cost and is it worth pursuing? Client is paying an extra $800/month that we can't explain.
Water meter accuracy testing - worth the cost?
Susan, independent meter testing runs $300-500 typically but can be worth every penny. Seattle Public Utilities had a similar issue where a meter was reading 15% high due to a manufacturing defect. We got two years of overbilling refunded - about $4,800. Key is to use a certified testing lab and follow your utility's dispute procedures exactly. Most tariffs require you to pay for testing upfront but utilities reimburse if the meter is found defective.
David's right about following procedures exactly. Raleigh requires 30-day written notice before meter testing and you have to use their approved lab list. The good news is if the meter is off by more than 2%, they have to refund all charges back to when the problem likely started. We've had three successful cases in the last five years, all resulting in significant refunds.
Steve makes a good point about the 2% threshold. Minneapolis uses the same standard. One thing to watch for is seasonal variation - sometimes what looks like meter error is actually a leak that only shows up when ground temperature changes. I always recommend a professional leak detection survey before paying for meter testing. Costs about $200 and can save you from a wild goose chase.
Donna brings up an excellent point about leak detection. In Montana, we see a lot of "phantom" usage that turns out to be underground leaks that only flow when pressure conditions are right. NorthWestern Energy actually requires a leak survey before they'll approve meter testing. It's saved several clients thousands in unnecessary testing costs. What's your client's usage pattern - steady increase or seasonal spikes?
Roy, it's been a steady increase since March 2019, about 15% higher than historical baseline. No seasonal variation which is what makes it suspicious. I'll definitely look into leak detection first - that's a great suggestion. The client is a small manufacturer so their usage should be very predictable. Any recommendations for leak detection companies that work in Oklahoma?
Susan, I don't know Oklahoma specifically but look for companies that do utility leak detection, not just plumbing. They have different equipment - acoustic sensors, ground penetrating radar, etc. Also check if OKC Water has an approved vendor list. Sometimes utilities will split the cost of leak detection if they find a problem on their side of the meter.
Rick's advice about utility-approved vendors is solid. MLGW here actually provides free leak detection for commercial customers as a conservation service. Worth asking if OKC has something similar. Also document everything - photos of the meter, daily readings if possible, any maintenance work done. If it does turn out to be a meter problem, you'll need a paper trail showing when the issue started.
Bobby's documentation advice is crucial. Just went through this with a client in New Orleans where Entergy initially denied there was a problem. Having daily meter photos going back six months was what finally convinced them to test the meter. Turned out to be a gear train issue that was causing 12% over-registration. Client got a $3,100 refund. The key is building an irrefutable case before you make the formal request.
Danielle, that's a perfect example of why documentation matters. Avista here in Spokane has gotten much more cooperative about meter testing since we started bringing detailed evidence packages. They know we're not just fishing - we have real data to back up our claims. Susan, I'd also suggest checking the meter installation date. Older mechanical meters can develop accuracy issues as they wear out.
Larry, great point about the meter age. Just checked and it was installed in 2014, so six years old. That's definitely in the range where mechanical wear could be an issue. I've reached out to two leak detection companies and OKC Water about their testing procedures. Will document everything going forward and keep you all posted on what we find. This forum is incredibly valuable for this kind of real-world advice.
Susan, one more thought - if the meter does test accurate, don't give up. Salt Lake City had a case where the meter was fine but the multiplier in their billing system was wrong. Customer was being billed for cubic feet instead of hundred cubic feet. Simple programming error but it took months to track down. Always verify that the billing system is using the correct units and multipliers.
Connie, that's a terrifying thought but probably more common than we realize. I'll definitely check the billing multipliers if the meter tests accurate. Thanks everyone for all the suggestions - between leak detection, meter testing, and billing system verification, we should be able to get to the bottom of this. Will post an update once we have results.
Susan, this has been a great thread with excellent practical advice from everyone. One final suggestion - consider installing a secondary meter or data logger on your client's side to create an independent record. It's about a $500 investment but gives you bulletproof documentation if disputes arise. I've used this approach successfully several times when utilities were being uncooperative about testing or billing accuracy issues.