011607 Water MetersVehicles Blocking Water Meters
Public Utilities Presentation to
Virginia Beach City Council
January 16, 2007
Vehicles Parked on Water Meters
•At any given time, there are one to two dozen
vehicles blocking water meters, about half are
intentional
•A small but determined group of customers
accumulate delinquent charges of $1,000 or
more
•DPU experiences significant costs as a result of
repeatedly sending meter readers or service
inspectors to try to read the meter or terminate
service for non-payment
One Particular Customer
•Meter blocked with some degree of regularity
over last six years.
•On and off in ’01, ’02 and ’03. Blocked in
virtually every billing period in ’04, ’05, ’06.
•43 work orders generated in last four years alone
at cost greater than $2,000 (does not include
administrative efforts).
•Prior to initiating special collection efforts with
the Treasurer, delinquency had grown to over
$1,300.
Proposed Process
Day 60:
•If meter is still blocked, the Police
Department will be called.
•Police officer will ask customer to move vehicle
or it will be towed. If vehicle is not moved, it
will be towed at owners expense. Service will
be cutoff until customer resolves delinquency.
•If vehicle is moved, it will not be towed. Service
will be cutoff until customer resolves
delinquency.
Alternative Considered
•Provide authority to move vehicle to access
meter, but not tow it from the property
•This would allow Public Utilities to enforce the
delinquency process
•Public Utilities would have to incur charges
upfront and attempt to recover them from the
customer in addition to the delinquent charges
•No disincentive for repeat action on the part of
the customer