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AbsentEmpire t1_jddstb3 wrote

Part of the problem is that the system is old as hell and a huge portion of it needs to be completely replaced, which is super expensive and not easy to do.

The other issue is the large amount of unpaid use that happens from lack of bill collection and stealing. That is getting paid for by everyone else seeing increasing rates.

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stepth t1_jde50ow wrote

I have experience dealing with customers’ unpaid bills. Some of the amounts are truly frightening, even with debt assistance programs.

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Eds118 t1_jdecq7s wrote

During the peak of Covid I was dealing with large unpaid water bills (not in the city but very close) and had a major university and multiple massive companies tell me they know we can not turn them off for non payment due to the govt moratorium. That act was intended to protect granny from being turned off not an oil refinery!

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Eds118 t1_jddvtdv wrote

Don’t forget old meters are not accurate (always slow never fast) so the bill is already too low for many.

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bierdimpfe t1_jdektam wrote

>old meters

Didn't they just replace all the meters under pain of shutoff?

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Eds118 t1_jdelm85 wrote

It’s an ongoing project that is always behind schedule. Home meters are good for 15 years so it should be based on when it was installed. I will bet many are way overdue and running slow, hence the threat of let them replace it or be turned off.

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Probability-Bot t1_jdepw4s wrote

Lot of them did my friend for years purposely avoided getting a new meter installed. For the very reason discussed. Till this day he still has the old meter.

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Eds118 t1_jdgff8q wrote

And that person is screwing everyone else it is the equivalent to shop lifting. Everyone else pays for what they are getting for free.

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bierdimpfe t1_jdf3fr8 wrote

Dude showed up at my house with the wrench and it was either make an appointment or get shut off.

I'm glad I was home because a neighbor wasn't.

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DrStrangeBudgie t1_jdfo1vv wrote

When they replace the meter it's just the radio not the actual part that water goes through. My meter seemed slow/sticky both before and after the upgrade.

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Eds118 t1_jdgf9bs wrote

That is a retro fit, if your meter is around 10yrs old it was read the “old way” aka very close like the truck had to be on your steet. But it is capable of “the new way” aka much further away with a new hardware upgrade that is a huge cost savings to the utility.

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datruesurfer t1_jdifw0j wrote

When they upgraded my water meter last year the actual measuring device with the spinning dials was kept in place. They only replaced the radio transmitter attached to it

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Probability-Bot t1_jde3u33 wrote

Didnt they just get a large grant not long ago?

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AbsentEmpire t1_jdemc0a wrote

I don't know, but even stating that, I'll confidently state that it was no where near the the total amount needed to replace the water system infrastructure.

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Probability-Bot t1_jdenepi wrote

Im sure it wasnt but at least to offset even a little some of these price hikes...

https://water.phila.gov/drops/press-release-biden-announces-500m-financing-for-water-projects/

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