Water Meter Installation Project Terms & Conditions

PROJECT ASSUMPTIONS

1. The lead time for installation services will range from six to ten weeks, commencing upon receipt of the Notice to Proceed (NTP).
2. Project pricing assumes no wage requirements.
3. Client will provide all required materials for meter installation (meters, endpoints, ancillary parts, etc.). In order for FlowPros to mobilize for the project the Client will either have a) all required materials on site or b) a minimum of a six-week supply of all required materials combined with a shipping schedule from the manufacture(s) for all required materials. The shipping schedule must accommodate the product on schedule agreed upon when project pricing was submitted.
4. FlowPros expects continuous work progression once the project commences. Should there be any work interruptions due to material shortages supplied by the customer or reasons beyond FlowPros control, the customer will be charged the hourly rate for each FlowPros employee or contractor onsite, as detailed in the contract. Furthermore, any costs related to warehousing, housing, or early termination fees will be billed separately.
5. Given the possibility of criminal activities in specific areas, FlowPros will consult with the Client to gauge potential risks and seek precautionary advice. If necessary, FlowPros may request the Client to provide security personnel for support.
6. All meters, encoders, and endpoints will be removed from service and either a) stored, transported and properly recycled in accordance with the contract or b) returned to the Client at the end of each day, where the Client will be responsible for storage, transportation, recycling and disposal of all removed materials. In either scenario, FlowPros will not be responsible for sorting, palatalizing, labeling, or packaging of removed materials.
7. FlowPros assumes the installation of advanced metering network collectors does not require any special permits or licenses. If permits or licensing is required, the customer will be responsible for pulling them or will compensate FlowPros for the time, effort and associated expenses required to do so at the hourly rates outlined in the contract.
   
   

INSTALLATIONS ASSUMPTIONS

1. FlowPros expects to complete all work in one visit. If there is a situation that prohibits FlowPros from conducting the work, FlowPros will mark it as an assist request. Additional visits to the meter, including assists, will incur charges at the contract’s specified hourly rate.
2. The Client commits to fulfilling assistance requests within ten (10) working days upon notification, enabling FlowPros to finalize the meter installation. Should the Client fail to meet this timeframe, FlowPros will return the meter to the utility (RTU) and exclude it from FlowPros scope of work. Extra work beyond the initial scope will be charged based on the standard hourly rates or unit pricing for remediation services as specified in the contract. All unit pricing provided apply exclusively to the initial customer visit.
3. FlowPros expects residential meters to be issued in route read sequence. The Client will supply a meter-reading/blackout schedule prior to project commencement.
4. Meters located in confined spaces, as per OSHA definitions, will require extra personnel, time and safety equipment for the replacement. Additional time, materials or services will be invoiced at the T&M rates outlined in the contract.
5. FlowPros will only be responsible for the repair of damage caused directly by FlowPros personnel while directly rendering project services.

6. Pricing covers meters accessible by standard vehicles only; it excludes those needing boat, ATV, or non-standard vehicle access.

7. FlowPros will validate that all endpoints are activated onto the AMI network and endpoints validate a billable read is obtained. Endpoints failing to validate on the AMI network will undergo troubleshooting by FlowPros. An endpoint that successfully validates a billing read will be deemed accepted activates the installation warranty for that account.

WATER METER INSTALLATION ASSUMPTIONS

1. FlowPros assumes meter exchanges to be “like for like” (identical meter size and lay length), without the need for significant plumbing alterations. It is expected that all isolation devices are in proper working condition, readily accessible within 18 inches of the meter, and clear of debris or obstructions. FlowPros is not responsible for operating system isolation devices (e.g., valves or curb stops) due to the failure or inaccessibility of adjacent isolation devices, nor for repairing or replacing any secondary devices that fail as a result.
2. FlowPros anticipates that water meter installation will consist of either a full replacement of the existing meter with a new meter, encoder register, and endpoint or a retrofit of the existing meter register with a new endpoint.
3. FlowPros is not liable for fixing pre-existing issues, including excessive corrosion, plumbing irregularities, or damage related to the deterioration of supply lines. FlowPros will not repair or replace any leaking or malfunctioning backflow prevention valves.
4. FlowPros will return meters installed in hazardous conditions or clear code violations to the Client and automatically mark them as RTU (Return to Utility) and remove it from FlowPros scope of work.
5. Water meters are equipped with standard connections that can be reused during installation, requiring no additional equipment or modifications.
6. Water meter exchanges do not include the provision or replacement of expansion connectors, meter couplings, setters, or flanges. Pricing for these additional services is available upon request.
7. An installation technician can access all meters, provided they are situated no deeper than 18 inches. Any labor or groundwork necessary for meter access, especially if it involves extensive excavation or the cutting, removal, and reinstatement of asphalt or concrete, will incur additional charges.
8. Meter retrofits that require shutting off the curb stop or removing the meter from service will be invoiced at the meter exchange fee outlined in the contract.
9. Pricing does not include testing new or removed meters. Pricing for such services is available upon request.

LARGE METER ASSUMPTIONS

1. FlowPros assumes if meters are located in a confined space environment, special equipment will be rented, and our hourly rate will be applied.
2. When a large meter is in a pit environment, FlowPros must be able to access the meter. The dirt and water level must be below the lowest meter point to exchange the meter to avoid any dirt/water etc. into the customer supply line. When having to clean out the pit to access the meter, the hourly rate will be applied.
3. FlowPros assumes meter sizes 1.5″ and above have working valves and available test ports.
4. If excavation is required, rental fees for equipment and our standard hourly rate will be applied.
5. FlowPros will not repair or replace leaking or faulty backflow prevention valves.
   
   

INSIDE SET ASSUMPTIONS

1. Inside Set Appointment Scheduling Charge is collected when a route, area or account is released for scheduling meter installation appointments. This charge is collected regardless of whether an appointment is ultimately scheduled. It covers the costs associated with preparing and managing the appointment process, including sending out mailers, staffing our call center, and maintaining our online scheduling application. This ensures that we can provide efficient and reliable scheduling services to all customers.
2. Service Attempt Charge: When meter installation is attempted but cannot be completed, the service is returned to the utility as an “Assist”. If the utility removes the installation from the scope of work, FlowPros charges a “Service Attempt Charge” to cover the costs of the attempted work. This fee is smaller than the full-service charge but ensures fair compensation for the effort made by the FlowPros team.
3. FlowPros will work with the Client to customize a set of Installation scheduling documents to assist with obtaining access to meters with in customer homes. This will include developing a scheduling letter to inform customers of their upcoming appointment, as well as 2nd attempt and 3rd attempt door hangers that will be left behind when the initial contact is unsuccessful.
4. FlowPros provides a scheduling database, website, and toll-free scheduling call center phone number.
5. The scheduling fee outlined in the contract is charged once the utility releases the route to FlowPros. The scheduling fee is charged to compensate for scheduling attempts required and is not dependent on the appointment being scheduled or the meter being replaced.
   
   

ELECTRONIC MASS METER EXCHANGE DATA ASSUMPTIONS

1. Client will provide all active and inactive meter and account data electronically, in CSV or Excel format, to facilitate the meter exchange project.
2. All Customer Information System (CIS), Mass Meter Change Out (MMCO) interfaces, billing read interfaces, and integration interfaces must be completed before the planned meter installation starts.
3. The meter and account data (source data) provided by the Client must be clean, accurate, and contain the full scope of work details to ensure a smooth and efficient meter change project. Source data will not be modified or edited by FlowPros.
4. FlowPros requires the advanced metering network to be fully functional prior to the commencement of mass meter installation.
5. The Client is responsible for granting authorization to FlowPros to work on behalf of the Client with the CIS/utility billing software vendor, to help ensure the mass meter change out interface is installed and usable. The Client will participate in final testing and acceptance of the mass meter change-out interface. Any fee’s imposed by the Clients CIS/Utility Billing Vendor for the establishment, testing and use of the mass meter change out interface is the Client’s responsibility.
6. Installation data will be delivered once each week and on a 72-hour delay to allow for proper quality assurance and control procedures to be run on all new meter installations.
7. Standard Installation Data Collection will encompass the following: a picture of the meter in its pit prior to removal, documentation of the old meter’s serial number and its final reading, a picture of the meter’s final reading, scanning of the new meter’s serial number, a picture of the newly installed meter displaying the flow direction and valve position.
   FlowPros will geocode the endpoint location to the service address. Additionally, any necessary comments will be recorded on the handheld device.