EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The Township Council unanimously adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 218 of the township code to require property owners to provide access for the replacement of water meters under the township's Advanced Metering Infrastructure program.
The ordinance, which received a second reading and public hearing this week, establishes mandatory water meter and AMI replacement requirements, customer access requirements, and enforcement procedures. It passed on a roll call vote with Council members Povol, Wendell, McAvoy and Winston, along with the council president, voting in favor.
According to the ordinance, the township has implemented the AMI program to replace existing water meters and install remote meter reading equipment, with the goal of improving billing accuracy, enhancing leak detection, reducing non-revenue water loss and eliminating estimated meter readings.
The initial replacement of a standard water meter and associated remote reading equipment will be performed at no charge to the property owner, according to the ordinance. However, property owners who fail to provide access within 30 days of a final notice will be subject to an Incompatible Meter Service Charge of $250 per month, effective Jan. 1, 2027. The charge will continue until installation is completed, up to a maximum of $2,000, and may be waived or suspended by the business administrator and water utility director in cases of demonstrated hardship.
The ordinance also establishes a $250 final meter reading and billing charge for customers who request a final reading upon sale of a property that has not had its meter replaced, effective Jan. 1, 2027. Property owners who continue to deny access after notice may be responsible for the township's costs of obtaining a court order for entry, along with related expenses including meter pit installation, excavation, and pavement and landscaping restoration.
During the public hearing, a resident asked whether the ordinance would fine people for not getting their meters replaced. A township official said the meter replacement effort has been ongoing for nearly four years, with approximately 1,500 households still needing replacement out of more than 20,000 meters already completed, including businesses.
The resident said he had completed his own meter replacement but raised concerns about billing errors that occurred afterward, saying the contractor who performed the work failed to notify the township, resulting in his meter not being read.
The official said the township has had few complaints over the course of the program and that other municipalities completing similar AMI projects faced the same challenges in reaching full compliance. The official said residents who still need replacements will receive a letter in the coming weeks to schedule installation, with appointments available during evenings, weekends and early mornings to accommodate residents.
The ordinance allows property owners to file a written appeal of an Incompatible Meter Service Charge within 20 days of assessment.
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