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New meter installs ongoing; staff to add explanatory notices to bills after mid‑quarter swaps
Summary
Staff reported ~130–135 of 350 new water meters have been installed. Mid‑quarter meter replacements can produce confusing bills; staff will include a pink explanatory slip and post guidance online while the Zenner system automates readings.
Richmond staff told the commission they have installed about 130–135 of the planned 350 water meters and expect installations to accelerate after winter preparations. The new meters and software will allow automated downloads and reduce manual meter-reading labor.
Staff explained a recurring billing confusion that arises when a new meter is installed mid‑quarter: the billing software records the new meter reading as the "current" and the prior meter reading as a negative "previous" value to calculate net usage, which can look odd on printed bills. To reduce customer confusion, staff said they will include a pink explanatory slip in affected mailed bills and post a clear explanation on the town's front‑porch forum and website.
"Because your property received a new meter during this past quarter ... the previous is expressed as a negative number," Josh explained during the meeting. Staff said Zenner software will automate meter downloads and uploads so future billing should be smoother; Connie will still print and mail bills but the system will save staff time in reading and transcribing numbers.
Commissioners suggested the labor savings should be reflected in future budget discussions; staff agreed the meter program both improves data quality and reduces time spent on routine meter work.
