In 2020, Austin Water began an ambitious, five-year project to replace all 250,000 analog water meters in the city with new, digital meters that measure and transmit water usage by wireless transmission.
Lori Latimer, a medical practice manager, said ever since Austin Water installed the smart meter at her north Austin home in the spring, “Each month my water usage goes up and up and up.”
‘Not smart at all,” she added. “This meter has a mind of its own.”
Her most recent bill, almost $50, shows she used more than 11,000 gallons in a month. Her bills show that’s triple the amount of water she used during the same time period last year, even though she said her habits have not changed.
Latimer said she’s checked for running toilets and leaking pipes but found nothing.
“I think there is something wrong with the meter,” she concluded.
But when Austin Water investigated at her request, she got an email back stating the smart meter was working fine.
Gabriela Olivares knows the feeling, “For one hour, it showed 40 gallons,” she pointed out on her bill.
Olivares had Austin Water come once again, and the technician figured out the problem. Wires were crossed between her water meter and her neighbor’s.
Austin Water has so far, installed about 168,000 of the 250,000 meters. The company expects to be done by 2025.
Read More Here: Customers complain of suspected inaccuracies with Austin Water’s new smart meters
