Zero Consumption Back Billing Guidance

Suffolk County Water Authority

HomeZero Consumption Back Billing Guidance
 

How Your Meter Functions

WATER SUPPLY CCF ERT
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Step 1
Passive Flow

Water travels from the main service line into your property's plumbing system.

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Step 2
The Meter

As water passes through, it physically turns a measuring element. A stopped dial while water is running in your home or business indicates a zero consumption issue.

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Step 3
The ERT

The transmitter reads the meter's internal register and broadcasts consumption data to passing collection vehicles. If the ERT fails to send data, such as from a dead battery, the meter continues to record usage for later collection.

The Suffolk County Water Authority is committed to fair and transparent billing. When a water meter shows zero consumption for consecutive billing cycles, SCWA will investigate the issue and take steps to ensure billing accurately reflects water usage.

 

Why Zero Consumption Readings Occur

  • A vacant or seasonal property with no water use
  • A malfunctioning or stopped meter
  • Meter tampering or physical damage
  • Transmission or reading errors on an otherwise functioning meter
Customer Responsibility Regardless of the cause, customers remain responsible for the cost of water used during this period. Once an accurate meter reading is obtained, any unbilled usage will be included in a catch-up bill.
 

Policy Guidelines

Catch-Up Billing Your bill may be higher than usual once actual usage is recorded.
Back Billing Limits Catch-up bills are limited to the previous three years of unrecorded usage.
Payment Plans Customers receiving a catch-up bill automatically qualify for installment plans.

Questions about your bill? Contact SCWA Customer Service at (631) 698-9500.