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The City of Wilmington has begun another phase in improving
customer service delivery to each water customer, our Automated Meter
Reading (AMR) Program. Soon, we will be in your neighborhood to install
your free new meter with an automated reading device or retrofit your
existing meter. There will be no cost for installation of this equipment.
The new water meters will be equipped with radio transmitting
devices that will enable us to read your meter from a vehicle equipped
to receive and store the reading. The new system will eliminate estimated
bills and allow the City to provide timely and accurate responses to your
water meter reading inquiries.
The City has contracted with United Metering, Inc. (UMI)
to install this equipment at residences served by the City of Wilmington
Department of Public Works. UMI will contact you by letter when it is
time to change your meter. Once
UMI contacts you, please contact UMI at 302-325-3987 to schedule an installation
appointment. (If your water meter is located outside, an appointment may
not be necessary. The letter to you will tell you whether an appointment is necessary.)
UMI’s office hours are 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This
is a mandatory program and your immediate attention in making an appointment
once UMI contacts you is appreciated.
Appointments are available:
- Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
- Saturday appointments are also available
UMI vehicles are clearly marked, their employees
will be wearing a blue uniform and they will have a photo identification
badge. The average installation time is about 30 minutes. A service technician
will replace or upgrade your old water meter, then connect the new/upgraded
meter to a radio-transmitting device.
What
is an AMR Project?
The AMR Project really means Automatic Meter
Reading (AMR) and Meter Replacement Program. This 5 year city wide project
will replace/retrofit old meters with new, state of the art meters that
will allow the City of Wilmington to obtain meter readings without coming
to your home. This means you will always be billed from actual meter
readings.
Where
is my water meter?
Your water meter may be located outside in meter pits
near the sidewalk or curb, or inside, in which case it would most likely
be located in the basement or crawl space, usually along the front wall
of your house.
Why
do I need a new meter?
Many
of the water meters are over 10 years old. Older meters are less accurate
and more costly to maintain, and require a meter reader to enter your
house to read the meter.
How
does the new meter reading system work?
Most
meter readings will be taken by a vehicle driving through your neighborhood.
In some cases, a meter reader may still walk the meter reading route.
When the vehicle or meter reader get near your meter, the meter transmits
its meter reading by radio. The readings are collected by devices in
the vehicle or held by the meter reader.
Will
my water bill go up?
Older meters tend to run slower and therefore do not
measure all the water going through them. The new water meter will accurately
measure the water that you use. All new meters are tested at the factory
to ensure that they register properly. If you see a higher bill, it
is usually not because your new meter is reading too high; it is because
the old meter was running slow. The City will not back bill customers
because their old meter was running slow, but all customers with new
meters will now pay for their actual usage.
Will
the timing of my water bills change?
There
will be no change to your quarterly billing period.
How
do I know that you have my reading and not someone else’s?
Each radio frequency device has a unique identification
number, which is transmitted along with the meter reading. The unique
identification number is compared to your account record to ensure that
there is a match.
How
do you know that my reading is accurate?
These state of the art water meters have electronic
registers, which verifies the meter reading three times before it is
sent to the transmitting unit. This reading is deemed more accurate
than visually reading the meter.
How
do I know if higher usage may be a result of a leak in my plumbing system?
A new, more accurate meter may detect small leaks
that the older meter missed. Check faucets for small drips. Also check
your toilet tank for small leaks in the toilet bowl. Place a few drops
of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the water in the bowl changes
to the color of dye used in the tank, you have a leak. Seek assistance
from your local home improvement center or plumbing professional to
fix all such leaks.
Do
I have to be home for the process?
If the meter is located outside in a meter pit near
the street you do not need to be home for this work to be completed.
If your meter is located inside your home, then you would have to be
home while the meter is being installed. The installation contractor,
United Metering, Inc, (UMI) will be contacting you to set up an appointment
to change your inside meter. You may also call UMI at 1-302-325-3987
to reschedule a previously arranged appointment.
How
long will the meter installation take?
Under normal circumstances, the installation will
take15-30 minutes. The water will have to be turned off for about 5
to 10 minutes until the meter is changed. Please be advised that there
may be some trapped air or slight discoloration in the water line. This
will clear up after running your water for a few moments. You may hear
some noise as the air exits spigots and fixtures. This is normal.
What
will they do inside my house?
Generally the Contractor’s installer will, with your
permission, locate your inside water meter, remove the old meter, install
the new meter and run wire along a wall or foundation to a point at
least 12 feet above the meter level. They will then attach the transmitting
unit, and clean up the area.
Is
there a hazard from the radio transmitter in my home?
No, the radio signal is only on when the meter reading
takes place. This is less than a few seconds per month. The power level
is far below that where any risk occurs.
Is
there anything hazardous inside the equipment?
No,
only ordinary electronics and batteries are inside the equipment.
Will
the radio interfere with my television, cordless phone or pacemaker?
No, the radio transmissions occur on a licensed frequency
very different from those used by television signals, cordless phones
and pacemakers. In addition, the transmissions last less than a few
seconds each month. You will never see interference with your television
reception.
Is
this system monitoring my phone calls?
No,
this equipment does not monitor phone calls.
Is
this system monitoring how many people are in my house?
No, this equipment does not monitor how many people
are in the house.
How
will I know your installer works for you?
All
installers will be wearing uniforms with United Metering identification.
Each installer will have a picture ID badge. If you are unsure about
the installer’s identity, call the United Metering project office at
1-302-325-3987 for confirmation.
What
if we have a leak after the meter is installed?
The City of Wilmington Department of Public Works
will make every effort to dispatch service personnel as quickly as possible
to determine the cause of the leak and to take appropriate action. You
may call the City of Wilmington Department of Public Works Customer
Service at 302-576-CITY (2489) during normal working hours (8:00AM –
5:00 PM Monday thru Friday) or during off hours 302-571-4320
What
happens if the wires are cut?
If the wires between the water meter and the reading
unit are cut, the reading unit will signal that a wire cut has occurred.
The Department of Public Works will respond to correct the problem.
If the service person determines that a deliberate cut occurred, the
owner of the property will be billed for the costs to repair.
Who
should I call if would like more information about the AMR Project itself?
You
may call United Metering Inc. at 302-325-3987.
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