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Orange County updates meter-installation charges after 15-year review; new schedule adopted
Summary
The county updated meter-installation charges to reflect higher material, labor and benefit costs since 2009. The consolidated resolution replaces separate water and reclaimed-water meter tables; the board approved the updated schedule during a public hearing Jan. 7.
Orange County commissioners on Jan. 7 approved a consolidated meter-installation charge schedule that updates fees developers and some new customers pay when new water or reclaimed-water meters are installed.
Deputy Utilities Director Tim Armstrong told the board that the county reviewed roughly 15 years of installation data and found meter, labor and benefit costs have risen substantially: the replacement cost for a standard residential meter rose more than 400% from the 2009 schedule in the county’s analysis, while labor and benefit components also increased significantly. Staff said developers pay for most new meter installations (about 99% in recent years), and that the meter-installation schedule covers meters up to 1 inch; larger meters remain listed at cost in existing resolutions and were not changed.
The board approved a single consolidated resolution to replace separate water and reclaimed-water meter-installation sections. Staff said the county will review meter-installation charges more frequently in the future—concurrent with periodic capital-charge updates—so the county does not again have a 15-year gap between adjustments.
Commissioners asked whether existing customers who already have a meter would face charges for meter replacement. Armstrong said the county replaces meters on a roughly 10–12 year cycle as part of routine maintenance and that replacement costs are not passed to customers who already have meters. New or second meters requested by a property owner (for example to meter irrigation separately) are charged to the requester.
Why it matters: The updated charges are intended to align developer-paid meter-installation fees with current material and labor costs so the utility does not subsidize new meter installations.
Next steps: The consolidated meter-installation resolution was approved at the public hearing; staff said it will revisit charges at the next capital-fee review cycle and publish details for customers and developers.
