Question

Anyone else get a ridiculously high water bill ever since they changed the "old" water meters? Mine went from an average of $185 every 3 months to $426! I called and asked what it was about and the gentleman over the phone said: "When we had the old water meters in it was only giving an estimated reading, now since we have the new ones it is more accurate so the $426 is based on the variance you're going to pay because the old ones weren't accurate" . What? Why wouldn't I just pay for what the new meter is calculating moving forward? Why would I have to pay a "VARIANCE" because the old ones weren't reliable? I'm just trying to understand how that is a homeowner's fault? Why should I get charged $426 for something due to the village's faulty "old" meters? Has anyone else seen their recent water bill skyrocket?  

Answer 1

You aren’t really paying extra, you are just paying what you should have paid before, but the estimates ended up being less than what you were actually using. I personally call every month and give them my actual reading (versus the estimate) so that I pay exactly what is owed and there’s no surprises moving forward. It sucks to have to pay it all at once- I’m sorry! But it’s not like you are paying for a faulty meter- you are just paying for water used that you weren’t billed for previously  

Comments

@carrol2412 Says who? What evidence is there that they were inaccurate., or undercharging? If anything, they overcharge.  

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@nainsook Well we know that they were not actually seeing the water meters and getting accurate readings, and we know that they were estimating, so it only makes sense that the difference would have to be paid at whatever point the accurate reading is given. Or a credit given if they happen to be overcharging.  

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@carrol2412 So in other words., they felt homeowners weren’t being honest in reporting their meter reading? I can read mine fine., and accurately report it. Just seems odd we are being told we have no choice in the matter.  

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@nainsook no I don’t think they felt that anyone was dishonest. The homeowner did not report her meter reading at all, she only paid based on the estimate. Now that the meter has been read, she has to pay for the total amount used. I also report mine, but not everyone does.  

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@carrol2412 Thanks

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@carrol2412 very well answered without drama! I too read the meter and submit the actual reading and I have been billed for that amount. Sometimes it was underestimated and sometimes over.  

Answer 2

When you paid your water bill did you also give them a new meter reading?  

Comments

@stature I learned the hard way many years ago that when a bill comes in I always called my reading in. Sometimes it was a little lower and something it was higher. I’m sorry that this is happening to you.  

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@stature Did this recently change? I was able to input my reading when I paid last quarter.  

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@stature Oh boy. I am paying my new bill this week. I guess I have to call them to give them the reading. Hopefully they will take over the phone. I don't want a running balance with them.  

Answer 3

When did they change water meters?  

Comments

They are in the process of changing them now--you should have received one or two post cards in the mail! My is scheduled for March!  

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@bertram2 we haven’t received anything yet.  

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Hmm let me see if I can find one and give you the number

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Here is the number 855-215-5122 and somebody will need to be home over 18 and it should take about 30 minutes! Or you can do it schedulemymeter. com but you need a pin and validation code from the post card--so I don't think you can do it online!  

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@stature Thank you for sharing this article!  

Answer 4

The question you should ask them is, "Is this a one time spike in my bill or is this what I will be paying now based on my usual usage? "

Comments

@stature Yeah I agree, utilities should eat the loss instead of dumping that on us.  

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I always did my own reading because their estimate was always off. I still have an old meter I hope I don't have the same issue since I have been paying based off my reading and not their estimate

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I feel like maybe somehow they're charging you for the new meters

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@stature What evidence do they have that they were faulty? Sounds like BS to me!  

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@nainsook mine was not faulty and if I did not pay off my own reading for the last 14 years I would probably have had to pay a few thousand dollars because every month they are off by at least $50. Kind of what like ComEd does. They only an actual reading every other month so one may you pay more/less and the next month adjusted based off actual reading. The issue with the Village sounds like they didn't notify some of the newer residents.  

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I agree too. I don’t know how the new ones work but wouldn’t it start at zero or did they input the last reading from the old meter? It just makes no sense to me that the variance can be so big or that they are charging one at all.  

Answer 5

We write in the numbers from the old meter which is estimated but every now and then I would get a corrected bill with the current amount due. Not sure how they calculate. Have not installed the new one yet. Thanks for the heads up!  

Answer 6

Didn't Niles recently add a sewer tax to the cost of each gallon used?  

Comments

@offload0 Yeah- where did that money go?  

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I think it's incorporated in cost per 1000 gallons

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Dont forget we are also switching to another supplier- all that construction down Howard street (earlier this year) was for the new water connection to (I think ) Evans ton instead of Chicago. The current construction is for Peoples Gas

Answer 7

Mine is always pretty spot on, with the old meter.  

Answer 8

I experienced error on bill in May, then they didn’t include our actual reading. Mine was 4 times what I expected. My husband couldn’t understand why we are paying actual and estimated. New meter was installed last week, we will see.  

Answer 9

I think you should just pay the bill  

Answer 10

Here's the Juice on water rates from the Village website. The last 4 years is $8. 44 per thousand gallons and 75 cents per thousand gallons.  
https://www.vniles.com/304/Water-Billing

Answer 11

The new meters don’t show even usage.  

Comments

Mine does; it was installed when they replaced the Oakton Street water main a couple years ago. It has the electronic reader box attached.  

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@offload0 you’re right. It was under a black cap.  

Answer 12

Old meter or new meter, I feel like it’s been on the rise for the last couple of years! I always provide an accurate meter reading and have definitely been paying more, and not necessarily been using more water!  

Answer 13

I haven’t installed the new one yet but I always went and checked the actual numbers and sent in the amount owed. It was always around $350 every 3 months. I hope it doesn’t go up from there.  

Answer 14

No fee if paid at Village hall. I asked on my last visit.  

Answer 15

If the meters are faulty, why are people calling in readings of the faulty meter?  

Answer 16

And make sure you go to the right one of 3 counters or you will have to wait i g line again, so rediculous!  

Answer 17

The new meters are expensive and use mercury. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are raising bills to not only pay for them but to also help fund the $22 million park they are developing next to dying golf mill.  

Answer 18

This BS happened to us. I had to pay an extra $500 . I was told that it was estimated of what I owed because the meter was faulty. Is that my fault? Niles has finally let me down. Thanks Mayor!  

Answer 19

If your bill has the word ESTIMATED, every bill you're paying is an estimate of the water you used. It means the Village isn't getting an ACTUAL reading. So when an actual reading is obtained, the water used between the last actual reading and the current actual reading is the actual amount of water used & billed - it's no longer an estimate. There is NO problem with the meter. The problem is with the electronic device sending the readings to the Village. The meter continues to accurately record the actual usage even when the electronic device fails. Also, as water meters age they become less accurate. Meaning they will under-count the amount of water used. The meter will not register usage greater than the amount actually used. So when a new meter is installed you may see an increase in usage, resulting in a larger bill.