Better Measurement of Use or Service Basis

Improve how the city measures the basis on which the fee is charged. Depending on the service, that may mean functioning meters, better meter reading, occupancy counts, bin counts, frontage measures, trip counts, or another practical proxy. Where the usage basis is weak, even a good tariff schedule will produce weak bills.

• Bills are based on rough guesswork rather than a consistent usage basis.

• Actual service use varies widely across users but the billing system does not capture that difference.

• There is strong public perception that charges are arbitrary.

The municipality should have authority to inspect, record, and use the relevant measurement basis for billing.

Define a clear measurement protocol, equip field staff with simple tools, verify readings or proxies routinely, and document what happens when measurements fail or proxies are temporarily used.

• Measurement technology would cost more than the stream is likely to return.

• Shared or intermittent service makes individual measurement impractical and no sensible proxy is available.

Improve how the city measures the basis on which the fee is charged. Depending on the service, that may mean functioning meters, better meter reading, occupancy counts, bin counts, frontage measures, trip counts, or another practical proxy. Where the usage basis is weak, even a good tariff schedule will produce weak bills.

• Identify where current charging relies on weak assumptions and decide whether better measurement should come from meters, route verification, occupancy counts, or another realistic proxy.

• Pilot improved measurement in a manageable area before scaling, so the city can test whether the extra accuracy is worth the operating cost.

• Define how readings or proxy measurements will be recorded, checked, and transferred into billing without creating new delays.

• Review the results after one or two cycles and adjust the measurement approach before the city invests more widely.

The municipality should have authority to inspect, record, and use the relevant measurement basis for billing.

Define a clear measurement protocol, equip field staff with simple tools, verify readings or proxies routinely, and document what happens when measurements fail or proxies are temporarily used.

• Bills are based on rough guesswork rather than a consistent usage basis.

• Actual service use varies widely across users but the billing system does not capture that difference.

• There is strong public perception that charges are arbitrary.

• Measurement technology would cost more than the stream is likely to return.

• Shared or intermittent service makes individual measurement impractical and no sensible proxy is available.

• Customers resist tariff clean-up when they do not understand what changed. Bills and notices should explain the charging basis in plain language.

• Protect lifeline users and statutory exemptions through separate approval and review rules rather than leaving them to ad hoc frontline discretion.