Where is my water meter?

The vast majority of water meters are located inside the building in the basement, usually along the front wall of your property.

Why is the city installing new water meters?

Water meters and their registers can potentially lose accuracy as they age; therefore, they should be replaced every 15 to 20 years.

When are appointments scheduled?

Appointments are scheduled during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays.

Will workers need to enter my home in order to service the meter and radio?

Yes, the meter technician will need access to the inside of your home to service the meter. The area around the meter should be clear and unobstructed so the meter technician can safely perform the work.

How long will it take for my appointment?

Once inside your home, the meter maintenance will take approximately 20 to 30 minutes. In some cases it might take longer, if the technician runs into difficulties.

Do I need to be home for this appointment?

Yes, an adult 18 or over must be present while the work is performed.

Will my water service be interrupted?

If the meter itself needs to be replaced, interruptions will generally last less than a half hour.  If the radio attached to the meter is the issue, water service will not be interrupted.

What are the benefits of AMR?

Improved customer service, including:

• Minimized need to access your property to read your meter
• Increased customer service
• Pro-Active leak detection.
• Controlled meter reading costs
• Fewer employee injuries, especially in areas with fenced yards, dogs and landscaping.

How does AMR work?

Using wireless radio transmitters, the water usage is read by a “Data Collector Unit” and then transferred to the billing and utility areas.

What information will be transmitted?

The collector units transmit meter readings, identification and diagnostic information.

Is my account information secure?

Yes, personal information is not transmitted. The system uses technology that was originally developed by the US military for secure communications to keep your information private and secure.

Is this new system really needed?

Yes. We strive to provide the best possible customer service, high reliability and billing accuracy. The AMR technology will help us achieve these goals.

Will the radio transmitter interfere with my television, garage doors or pacemaker?

No, the radio transmissions occur on a designated frequency different from those used by televisions, garage doors, pacemakers and other electronics.

Are there any potential health concerns with the radio signals?

Studies made on low-power RF transmissions have revealed no negative health impacts.

Is this radio a listening device used to listen to conversations in my home?

Absolutely not. This is a device programmed only to transmit water usage.

What powers the AMR radio transmitter?

The radio is battery-powered. The expected life of the battery is 20 years, which coincides with the expected life of a residential water meter.

Does this mean my bill will be increasing?

Not necessarily. In some cases, your bill may increase, but only if your current meter is under reporting usage. Presently the majority of residents are paying for the water they are actually using, while a few residents are only paying for a fraction of the water. This condition is not fair to all residents. The new system will ensure fairness and equality for all the residents and businesses from this point forward.

What will this cost?

There is no additional charge to you for the meter replacement/upgrade.

Will I see a change in my service after AMR is installed?

The only significant change to your utility service will be that once the AMR system is in place meter readers will no longer visit your property to collect meter readings.

Do I need to maintain the AMR meters?

No. The City of Roseville will handle all ongoing maintenance of the equipment. Do not tamper with the devices. Do not bang on them or attempt to make adjustments. Teach children never to touch or play near utility equipment including the meters and radio transmitters.

Isn’t my water meter on the outside of the home, isn’t that what is read?

No, water meters are located within the homes to prevent freezing in the winter months.

Most homes are equipped with an outside reading device connected to the meter inside by a wire. This is what the meter reader used to get the water consumption reading. Installers replaced the water meter inside your home and installed a new radio device either inside, or on the outside depending on signal strength.

How do you know that my reading is accurate?

AMR reading technology uses electronic registers to collect the readings and a radio to send the data that have proven to be more accurate than visually reading the meter by removing the possibility for human errors. In addition, each radio device has a unique identification number that is transmitted along with the meter reading. The unique identification number is compared electronically to your account record to ensure that the meter reading received matches the meter assigned to your account.

Has this new AMR equipment been tested for accuracy and reliability?

Yes, this equipment has gone through numerous tests for billing accuracy and system reliability.