Estimated Water Bill Letter

If you receive more than two estimates in a row, please contact the business office at 617-796-1640 to speak with a representative and make an appointment. Either the outside transponder (MTU) or the meter may need servicing. 

If you receive an estimated water bill and the water consumption seems higher than your normal consumption, you can read your water meter and submit the read to our water billing department.  They will adjust your water bill accordingly.  Please see the below instructions.

 Steps to read your water meter:

To locate your water meter, go to your basement and head to the front of your house (consider bringing a flashlight.)  The water meter is connected to pipes that come down from the ceiling.  The meter is brass on the bottom, about the size of a coffee can (see photos on the back), with a black cover on top that flips open.  Your meter serial number will be on the black cover.  Lift the thin black cover and read all the numbers, just like the odometer in your car.  This will be your water meter reading.  Take a photo of the meter serial number and the meter reading and forward to the City’s billing office at waterbilling@newtonma.gov.

We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.

_____________

Dear Property Owner,

We have good news: the City of Newton is beginning a Water Meter Replacement Program.

This very important project includes the installation of new water meters, new transponders (sometimes called the meter transmission unit (MTU)) and a new data collection system.

This will begin the process of eliminating the estimated water and sewer bills that many Newton property owners have been receiving due to the issues with the meter transponders. Newton’s Utility Department has already begun replacing some meter transmission units (MTU) with new ones, resulting in actual water consumption reads being sent to our Billing Division.

Estimated Reads Calculation Explanation

As a result of the Water Meter Replacement project and new transponders being installed, we anticipate some properties that have received multiple water/sewer bills with estimated reads will receive a catch-up bill. (In other words, the actual read when the new transponder is installed may be higher (or sometimes lower) than the estimated reads.)

Please know that the  water meters have been accurately reading water usage throughout your estimated read period; the transponders just have not been automatically transmitting the information to our Billing Division.

If you have received an estimated bill, the city will perform a daily analysis of the water consumption to ensure that any catchup bill accurately reflects the appropriate rate tiers for water through the estimated read period. (The City of Newton charges different rates based on the amount of water used; these are called rate tiers.)

Once your new meter and MTU are installed, your next water/sewer bill will be based on the actual meter read.

If the actual meter read is higher (or lower) than the estimates, the Water/Sewer Billing Division will run a daily analysis of all water/sewer bills for the period that you received estimated bills to ensure that a catchup bill correctly accounts for the rate tier and the price of the water at the time of consumption.

12-Month Payment Plan

If you have a catchup bill because the actual read is higher than the estimates, the City is offering customers two payment options.

One agreement /payment option spreads the balance owed equally over 12 months.  The other payment option would allow for minimal monthly payments for 11 months with a final balloon payment in month 12.

Both payment options do not charge interest for that twelve-month period.

Customers can request either option via email at waterbilling@newtonma.gov or in person at the Water Billing Department located in Newton City Hall at 1000 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton.

If your actual read is LOWER than the estimates,  the City immediately process a refund.

Customer Portal

One of the benefits of the new water meter system is the addition of a customer portal, which allows all customers to monitor their water usage in real time and set alerts for increased usage. Customers that set alerts in the portal and the City will be able to identify leaks and excessive water usage.

During the appointment when a new water meter is installed, the meter installation technician will ask property owners if they would like to sign up for the portal and will record the associated e-mail address. If you opt not to sign up for the customer portal during the installation of the meter, the City will publicize other options on how to sign up for the customer portal at another time.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during your water meter upgrade.