Many utilities allow customers to install additional meters on their service line for the purpose of measuring the volume of water that does not enter the sanitary sewer systems. In order to be considered an additional meter, there must be a primary meter installed on the same service line, and it must be billed on the same account as the primary meter. These meters may also referred to as deduct meters, irrigation meters, sewer meters, or secondary meters.
The configuration and applicable charges for additional meters depends on the plumbing configuration at the customer’s location, the ownership of the meter, the method for recovering public fire protection costs, and the customer classification system established by the utility in its PSC-approved tariff provisions. In general, all primary meters are subject to general service rates (Schedule Mg-1) and public fire protection charges (Schedule F-1 or Fd-1 if the municipality has elected to charge utility customers directly for public fire protection). Additional meters are subject to additional meter charges (Schedule Am-1) and are generally exempt from public fire protection charges. In some instances, a utility may classify additional meters as irrigation meters that are subject to irrigation class rates.
Additional meters owned by the water utility, regardless of configuration, should be reported by the utility in their PSC annual report as “Additional Meters.” Meters that are owned by the customer or by the sewer utility should not be included in the PSC annual report. A customer may own meters for their own internal monitoring purposes as long as those meters are not used by the utility to compute that customer’s water bill. Examples include factories and mobile home parks where the water bill is computed using a master meter. These internal use meters should not be reported in the PSC annual report. A customer who provides their own water supply, such as a private well, may own the meter used to measure water discharged into the sanitary sewer system if the sewer utility is not regulated by the PSC.
The PSC generally recognizes three different metering configurations: the Deduct Method, the Direct Read Method, and the Addition Method.
FIGURE 1 – DEDUCT METHOD
Water Billing - No Irrigation Class
General water service is billed according to Schedule Mg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the M1 reading. If M2 is owned by the water utility, the water utility may charge a meter rental charge under Schedule Am-1 based on the M2 meter size.
Water Billing - Irrigation Class
If the utility has established an irrigation class, M2 is classified as an irrigation meter. Each meter is treated as a separate account. General water service is billed according to Schedule Mg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the difference between the M1 reading and the M2 reading. Irrigation water service is billed according to the irrigation class rates based on the M2 meter size and the M2 reading.
Direct Fire Protection
If the water utility bills its customers directly for public fire protection, the charges under Schedule F-1 (Fd-1) apply only to the M1 account. Typically, these charges are based on the size of service lateral or the M1 meter. No public fire protection charges apply to the M2 meter.
Sewer Billing
Sewer service is billed according to Schedule Smg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the billable sewer volume, which is calculated by subtracting the M2 reading from the M1 reading (for a regulated sewer utility).
Notes
The M1 meter must be owned by the water utility. The M2 meter can be owned by either the water utility or the sewer utility, unless it is used as an irrigation meter.
FIGURE 2 – DIRECT READ METHOD
Water Billing - No Irrigation Class
General water service is billed according to Schedule Mg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the M1 reading. If M2 is owned by the water utility, the water utility may charge a meter rental charge under Schedule Am-1 based on the M2 meter size.
Water Billing - Irrigation Class
If the utility has established an irrigation class, M2 is classified as an irrigation meter. Each meter is treated as a separate account. General water service is billed according to Schedule Mg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the M2 reading. Irrigation water service is billed according to the irrigation class rates based on the M2 meter size and the difference between the M1 reading and the M2 reading.
Direct Fire Protection
If the water utility bills its customers directly for public fire protection, the charges under Schedule F-1 ( Fd-1) apply only to the M1 account. Typically, these charges are based on the size of service lateral or the M1 meter. No public fire protection charges apply to the M2 meter.
Sewer Billing
Sewer service is billed according to Schedule Smg-1 based on the M2 meter size and the M2 reading (for a regulated sewer utility).
Notes
The M1 meter must be owned by the water utility. The M2 meter can be owned by either the water utility or the sewer utility, unless it is used as an irrigation meter.
FIGURE 3 – ADDITION METHOD
Water Billing - No Irrigation Class
General water service is billed according to Schedule Mg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the combined M1 and M2 readings. An additional meter rental charge under Schedule Am-1 may apply, depending on the M2 meter size (see Notes).
Water Billing - Irrigation Class
If the utility has established an irrigation class, M2 is classified as an irrigation meter. Each meter is treated as a separate account. General water service is billed according to Schedule Mg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the M1 reading. Irrigation water service is billed according to the irrigation class rates based on the M2 meter size and the M2 reading.
Direct Fire Protection
If the water utility bills its customers directly for public fire protection, the charges under Schedule F-1 ( Fd-1) apply to the M1 account. If M2 is larger than ¾–inch, public fire protection charges also apply to the M2 account.
Sewer Billing
Sewer service is billed according to Schedule Smg-1 based on the M1 meter size and the M1 reading (for a regulated sewer utility).
Notes
Both the M1 and M2 meters must be owned by the water utility. The Addition Method applies only if M2 is ¾-inch or smaller. If M2 is larger than ¾-inch, Schedule Mg-1 rates apply to both M1 and M2 as separate accounts.
The following examples demonstrate how these charges should be applied to various meter configurations for multi-tenant units. The units could represent multi-family rental units, condo units, or commercial properties.
Example 1: Each M1 meter is treated as a separate general service customer subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. If the M2 meter is billed on the same account as one of the M1 meters (Unit 1, 2 or 3), it could be considered an additional meter (Am‑1). Under this scenario, public fire protection charges do not apply to the M2 meter. Alternatively, the M2 meter could be billed as a separate account under Mg-1. Unless the M2 meter is billed as an irrigation only customer, public fire protection charges would apply under this scenario. Typically, the owner or association is responsible for charges on the M2 meter.
Example 2: Each M1 meter is treated as a separate general service customer subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. Because it is served by its own lateral, the M2 meter is treated as a separate general service customer subject both Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges. The property owner or association would be responsible for charges on the M2 meter.
Example 3: Each M1 meter is treated as a separate general service customer subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. If the M2 meter is billed on the same account as one of the M1 meters (Unit 1, 2 or 3), it could be considered an additional meter (Am‑1). Under this scenario, public fire protection charges do not apply to the M2 meter. Alternatively, the M2 meter could be billed as a separate account under Mg-1. Unless the M2 meter is billed as an irrigation only customer, public fire protection charges would apply under this scenario. Typically, the owner or association is responsible for charges on the M2 meter (not necessarily Unit 3).
Example 4: The M1 meter is a master meter and is subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. The M2 meter could be considered an additional meter (Am-1) or a separate irrigation customer under Mg-1. No public fire protection charges should be applied to the M2 meter. The property owner or association would be responsible for charges on the M2 meter.
Example 5: The M1 meter is a master meter and is subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. The M2 meter could be considered an additional meter (Am-1) or a separate irrigation customer under Mg-1. No public fire protection charges should be applied to the M2 meter. The property owner or association would be responsible for charges on the M2 meter.
Example 6: The M1 meter is a master meter and is subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. Because it is served by its own lateral, the M2 meter is treated as a separate general service customer subject both Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges. The property owner or association would be responsible for charges on the M2 meter.
Example 7: Each M1 meter is treated as a separate general service customer subject to Mg-1 and direct public fire protection charges, if applicable. The M2 meter could be considered an additional meter (Am-1) if both M1 and M2 are billed on the same account. Alternatively, M2 could be billed as a separate irrigation customer under Mg-1. If M2 is billed as an additional meter or an irrigation customer, no public fire protection charges should be applied to the M2 meter.
Example 8: No charges would apply if the meter is owned by the sewer utility or the customer. If the meter is owned by the water utility, then Am-1 charges would apply. Direct public fire protection charges would not apply unless the utility has opted to bill non-customers.