About Your Meter
Berea Municipal Utilities utilizes Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) technology for both water and electric services. AMI meters securely and automatically transmit usage information to BMU. This system greatly reduces the need for routine manual meter readings or for personnel to enter your property or access an underground meter pit.
Meter readings are collected remotely throughout the billing cycle. The billing read date for your account can be found on your bill.
As usage data is received, it is reviewed and compared with previous consumption patterns. If unusual changes in usage are detected, BMU staff will investigate the account and verify the meter data as needed to help ensure your bill remains accurate each month.
Electric Meter
Electricity used in your home is measured in kilowatt-hours or kWh. As a quick reference, a 100-watt light bulb burning for 10 hours uses one kilowatt-hour. Being able to read your electric meter will provide a good way to monitor electric consumption in your home.
Electric meters are driven by the electricity moving through it. As the home draws current from the power lines, the dial on the meter moves. The speed of the meter dial depends on the amount of current drawn — the more power consumed at any one instant, the faster the dial will move.
The amount of kWh that has passed through the meter is recorded by the 5 digits on the digital meter display, read from left to right. Keep in mind that when BMU meters are read, the kilowatt-hour readings DO NOT reset back to zero each month. Therefore, the numbers keep turning until the next time the meter is read. By subtracting two consecutive readings, the amount of electric usage is determined for the month.
Water Meter
Water used in your home is now measured in gallons. BMU meters are read like the odometer in your car, from left to right, and register the total number of gallons that have passed through the meter.
Your water meter has multiple display screens. The first (01) is your total usage, 7-9 digits depending on meter size, read left to right and stopping at the decimal. The second and third are used internally for firmware upgrades and error code diagnostics. The fourth (04) is the flow rate screen. The flow rate screen (gallons per minute or GPM) increases and decreases depending on how much water flows through the meter. Continuous increases in the flow rate means that water is being used and may signal a possible leak. If you suspect a leak, record the meter reading and the position of the leak indicator, then avoid using any water for at least one hour. Recheck the meter to determine whether water has continued to flow.
Please note that not all leaks are continuous and may not always be detected by observing the leak indicator alone. For example, a toilet handle that occasionally sticks can allow water to run for a few minutes before returning to its normal position, causing the leak to stop temporarily.
If you discover a leak, you may be eligible for a leak adjustment to your water and/or sewer bill. Please visit our Leak and Pool Adjustments page or contact BMU for additional information.
Sewer
BMU does not use a meter to measure the flow into the sewer system. Rather, your sewer bill is based on the amount of water used on the property. Provisions are made for water not discharged to the sewer system. See Leak and Pool Adjustments for more information.
If your water service is provided by BMU, your sewer charges are based on the water meter readings obtained by BMU meter readers. If your water service is provided by Southern Madison Water District (SMWD), your sewer charges are based on readings provided monthly to BMU from SMWD.
Meter Malfunctions
Electric and water meters typically run for several years on the same home or business without failing – they are very reliable. BMU periodically changes out meters, so they be brought back to the operations department for testing. BMU requires our electric meters to test at least 98% accurately.
If a meter does develop a problem, however, it will usually run slower than normal and record lower than actual usage or quit recording at all. It is extremely rare for a meter to run faster.
If you think there is a problem with your electric or water meter, please contact us so we can perform a meter check.