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Rockville council approves $100 per‑billing‑cycle penalty for residents who do not connect to new water meters
Summary
After discussing remaining non‑connected properties and vendor windows for replacements, the council authorized a $100 per‑billing‑cycle penalty for customers who fail to connect to the city’s new water meters and approved payment for oversized meter work.
Rockville — The Rockville City Council voted to charge a $100 penalty per billing cycle to residents who do not connect to the city’s new water meters after vendor changeout windows expire.
City staff reported there are roughly 27 remaining non‑connected properties (nine of which are expected to pose the primary difficulty), and explained that the meter vendor will provide a two‑week window for crews to complete changeouts before the city begins enforcement. The council approved a $100 per‑billing‑cycle penalty, to be applied after that vendor window and after city staff notify affected customers.
Council also authorized payment of $3,276 for oversized meters that required special handling. Staff advised the council that if the vendor cannot complete a connection the city may be responsible for completing the work and that the monthly penalty is intended to incentivize residents to arrange the necessary access.
Julie, who presented the fire‑department and customer outreach perspective during the discussion, said staff preferred charging the penalty per billing cycle to encourage prompt action. "I think per billing cycle," she said when asked about the cadence of the fee.
Council directed staff to coordinate notification to affected customers, confirm the vendor two‑week windows, and add reminders (including on billing and the city website) encouraging residents to download the meter‑reader app that provides alerts about water usage.
