NOTICE TO NEW AND EXISTING FGUA CUSTOMERS REGARDING NEW WATER METER SHORTAGES

(January 2023)

Dear FGUA Customer,

Due to unprecedented supply chain shortages in the water utility metering industry, the FGUA is experiencing a shortage of water meters and Encoder Receiver Transmitter (ERT) devices available for new and existing customers.  IN addition, supply chain challanges may also impact new construction.  Depending on the size and type of water meter, deliveries may be delayed between 4-12 months based on estimates from the manufacturer.  In the meantime, the FGUA will pursue all feasible options for minimizing disruptions to customer service and billing until meter shortages have been resolved by the manufacturer.  Remedies for addressing meter shortages will be implemented on a case-by-case basis at no additional cost and may consist of the following for meter sizes up to 2 inches:

When new meters ARE available:

• Installation of a new water meter from another manufacturer in place of the FGUA standard water meter.
• Installation of a new temporary water meter that will be replaced with the FGUA standard water meter when supplies are replenished.
  • Manual-read water meters installed temporarily in radio-read water systems will be read manually by FGUA personnel as schedules allow. See the “Estimated Reads” section below for additional information.

When new meters ARE NOT available:

• Radio-read water meters for existing FGUA customers that cease transmitting the meter reading but continue to register usage will be read manually by FGUA personnel as schedules allow. See the “Estimated Reads” section below for additional information.
• If available, installation of a used water meter in good condition to establish service at a new connection or to replace a “stuck” meter that no longer registers consumption. The used water meter will be replaced with a new FGUA standard water meter when supplies are replenished.
  • Used water meters will be tested by FGUA personnel before installation to ensure that they operate at an appropriate metering accuracy. Since metering accuracy typically decreases over the life of a meter, it’s likely that a used water meter will read a few percent LOW (i.e., 100 gallons will flow through the meter, but less than 100 gallons will be registered).
  • Used Manual-read water meters installed in radio-read water systems will be read manually by FGUA personnel as schedules allow. See the “Estimated Reads” section below for additional information.

Estimated Reads:  Manually obtaining a billing read from a water meter in a radio-read water system requires that FGUA field personnel perform a special in-person visit to each applicable meter location.  If a billing read can’t be obtained in time for the current billing period due to the availability of personnel, billed consumption will be estimated as follows:

• Existing Customers: Based on the average monthly consumption during the most recent 12-month period.
• New Customers: Based initially on the meter size and type of use (Residential, Commercial, Irrigation, etc.) until enough billing reads have been obtained by FGUA personnel to establish an average monthly consumption.

Existing customers will receive notification by door hanger once meters are replaced.  New commercial customers who have requested the installation of water meters up to 2 inches in size will be notified by FGUA Development Services staff concerning any updates on new metered water service requests.

The FGUA apologizes for any inconvenience experienced by customers during this service challenge.  Customers with questions are encouraged to call their local FGUA Customer Service Office as noted below: