Problem Statement

The local meter reading company servicing the Greentree Commons Condominiums Association in Chesapeake, VA was notoriously unreliable.

The HOA needed a submetering solution that would facilitate accurate unit-level water billing, without requiring onsite meter readings or additional work for the board.

Project Summary

The Association’s priority was a user friendly, accurate, low maintenance water billing system. Regina, the board president, researched dozens of solutions before presenting SimpleSUB Water to the board.

The property’s 83 units were already plumbed with mechanical inline submeters, but even if the meters displayed accurate readings, no service provider would interpret them reliably. Remote reporting and automated billing became secondary priorities for the Association, as they were eager to standardize and streamline water billing for their frustrated residents.

SimpleSUB Water’s clamp-on design – which prevented the board from having to amend their bylaws or hiring professional installers – appealed to Regina, so she presented it to the association. The project was successful, and Regina and the entire community now have “a huge weight off” their shoulders.

Challenge

Meter Readings: In Chesapeake, VA, customers are required to retain a third-party meter reading company, as the utility does not provide meter reading services. Greentree Commons tried working with both of the two local meter reading companies, and the service they experienced was, “Bad and worse. The homeowners would watch the technicians drive up, barely glance at the meter, and drive away.”

Technicians were reporting ‘unreadable meters’ and basing their reports on averages or estimates. In an effort to reduce inconsistencies, Regina and her husband used to personally check and clean every one of the property’s 83 water meters. She even developed a system to de-fog the meters on humid days.

The entire HOA grew frustrated with how much stress the situation was creating, and how unpredictable their water bills were. Regina got her Sundays back when she implemented the SimpleSUB Water solution.

Outcome

DIY Installation: Two volunteer board members performed installation. They were able to deploy the SimpleSUB solution on a spaced-out timeline that suited the Association budget and residents’ schedules.

Trusted Partners: The customer recruited a third-party utility billing company, Think Utility Services, to manage the property’s unit-level water usage data and billing. Since the Association onboarded the solution, they have experienced stress-free unit-level water billing. Says Regina, “Everything has been smooth since we got installed. They are both fantastic [service providers].”

Highlights

• Eliminated inconsistent and inaccurate water bills.
• HOA achieved hands-free, unit-level water billing and collections by retaining a full-service billing partner.
• Leak alerts became popular with residents and have helped them avoid high water bills on numerous occasions.

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