IF A METER READING IS NOT RECEIVED FROM THE CONSUMER, THE ACCOUNT WILL BE ESTIMATED AND A $10.00 CHARGE
WILL BE ACCESSED TO YOUR WATER BILLING STATEMENT.
1) Consumers who will be gone: If a consumer is going to be gone for the winter, or for more than
one month at a time, the consumer should contact our office with the meter reading prior to leaving and we will code the account to
“Not Estimate the Account” until their return. The same meter reading will then be billed each month during this time. When
the consumer returns, they should let the office know that they are back, and we will then change the account back to regular monthly
meter readings.
2) Meter Reading Dates Meter readings should still be taken on or about the 1st of each month when the
consumer receives their monthly billing statement. This reading will not be billed until the next bill run. For example, the meter reading
that is taken and entered on the billing statement in November will not be billed out to the consumer until December. As long as we receive
this reading by the 15th of the month prior to the next bill to be calculated, there will be no extra charge and the account will
not be estimated.
3) Vacant Homes: If your house is for sale or the house is vacant, monthly meter
readings will be required, or the bill will be estimated and the account will be accessed the fee. If you know that you will not be using
the water for several months, it might be a good idea for you to have our servicemen come out and turn off the curbstop in the yard. If this
were done, then you would not have to worry about water in the house if a pipe should happen to break.
For most consumers, no change in how or when they are reading their meter will be necessary. The reason for the new charge
for estimated bills, is that there is a growing number of accounts that we are not getting meter readings on for several months at a time and
then when we do get a reading, the account has been greatly over or under billed. Monthly meter readings are beneficial both for the consumer
to keep track of their usage better, and also for North Prairie Rural Water to keep a better handle on water loss through possible leaks after
the reservoir stations.
Other Information: Please only read the 5 or 6 movable digits off of your water meter. Any stationery
or non-movable digits that are painted on the meter, that do not move, should not be entered on the billing stub when entering your meter
reading. These zeros are your meter multiplier (either 10 or 100 in most cases; this shows on your billing statement under the column
“multiplier”). When the computer accepts your new meter reading, it subtracts it from the last reading billed to you, and this amount
is then multiplied by your meter multiplier to figure the gallons billed.
If you still have any questions, after reading this notice, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at 701-852-1886
and we would be happy to answer them for you.