New Yorkers Face Estimated Water Bills as They Await Meter Upgrades

By Katie McFadden
Heads up if your water bill seems higher than usual for the winter. Some New Yorkers have been receiving bills based on estimated reads as the city undergoes an initiative to upgrade automatic water reading devices.
In early January, a concerned reader reached out to us to alert us about an issue with her water bill, that could potentially affect most New Yorkers.
“I recently received my water bill, I thought it was odd that it was higher than my last bill which included the summer months when my sprinkler system is turned on. I then noticed that it states, ‘Estimate Read.’ I called customer service and was told that all water meters in all five boroughs need a battery replacement. This is being worked on and they cannot say when they will get to everyone. Until this is complete all bills will be based on this last bill. The highest water bill I receive all year. Once my battery is replaced and bills go back to ‘Meter Read,’ I can call back for a possible price adjustment, but this is not guaranteed. I asked if this is the case for all residents in all boroughs and was told yes. I’m sure most homeowners don’t even know this is happening since no communication was sent to customers,” Celeste O’Connor sent in an email.
The Rockaway Times took to Facebook page Friends of Rockaway Beach to ask if others had experienced something similar. A few folks commented that they too had received higher than usual water bills. One man claimed he recently received a bill for a whopping $28,000. Another woman said her bill has tripled. Some said their bills are now around $800. However, another said they haven’t experienced this as their bill has been the same price for the last three months.
The Rockaway Times then reached out to the NYC Department of Environmental Protection to share these claims and ask for more information. A spokesperson responded saying, “We announced the citywide initiative to upgrade these meter reading devices (not a water meter) in early December,” and shared an accompanying press release about the efforts.
On December 2, 2024, the DEP announced “the start of a program to upgrade more than 600,000 Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) devices across the city over the next three years. The AMR device is the small gray box attached to the exterior of a property that wirelessly transmits water consumption readings from the water meter to DEP. This work will begin in the Greenpoint neighborhood and the upgrades to the existing AMR devices will provide a number of key benefits including: Real-Time Monitoring: Customers can access detailed consumption data online to understand their water use; Improved Leak Detection: Faster identification and response to leaks, reducing water loss and Enhanced Customer Service: Consistent water use readings translate to better overall service quality.
“The upgrade program is mandatory for all property owners and DEP will perform the work at no charge. Most AMR devices are located on the exterior of the property so no appointments will be necessary to complete the upgrade. Residents may see DEP technicians and/or contractors approach their property and walk the perimeter of the building to identify the location of the AMR device. The DEP technicians or contractors will be clearly identified with DEP logos on their uniforms and will produce proper identification, including a DEP ID card, upon request. They will travel in vehicles with DEP markings and will never ask for payment.
“Property owners are asked to: Ensure the area around the AMR device is clear and accessible and trim back bushes so technicians can easily access the AMR device. Bring any pets inside while technicians are working at the property. Look out for notifications regarding installation timelines.”
Customers will be notified when their upgrade work is set to take place. On the bill, the spokesperson said, “If an estimated bill is found to be incorrect – once an actual read of the meter is obtained, the bill will be adjusted up or down as appropriate.”
For DEP billing issues, call: 718-595-7000. For general inquiries, call 311.