You installed water meters yourself, what to do next?

When is the procedure for commissioning a water meter necessary?

Acceptance of a water meter into operation means the procedure for legal registration as a device that records without errors.
It is for the installed meter that the payment will be provided, and the procedure for its approval is necessary after:

• repairs of accounting equipment;
• replacement with another device that has a certificate;
• verification - study of the meter aimed at detecting interference in the design in order to change the readings.

Certificate of commissioning of water meters sample form

The act of commissioning hot and cold water consumption meters is an integral part of the contract for the provision of services for the installation, maintenance and repair of water meters.

Each service company has its own form of contracts and acts.

Before installing the meter, check its integrity and the presence of the factory seal. In the absence of such a seal, the meter is considered invalid. There should also be no cracks or gaps on it.

The best thing. If it is a completely new metering device with a passport, which must indicate the date of its manufacture, the period of standard operation, possible errors in operation, the frequency of verification, as well as technical characteristics.

Who installs water meters

The meter can be installed either by the owner of the water meter, an employee, a specialized organization, or a representative of the supplier. The main thing is that the meter is installed in accordance with the requirements of regulations.

After installing the metering devices, you should invite a representative of the organization that supplies water to the house to accept and draw up a commissioning report for the metering device.

The procedure for installing and accepting meters should not be extended for a long time, especially since the deadlines are clearly regulated by the Rules of Consumption and the agreement with the supplier. To avoid claims from the receiving company about the quality of meter installation, it is best to immediately invite a representative of the supplier to install and accept the meter into operation.

What is stated in the act

The act must include the following points:

• date of drawing up the act. It is from this point that the countdown of the service life of the metering device begins;
• name of water supply supplier;
• last name, first name, patronymic of the employee who installed the meter;
• last name, first name and patronymic of the meter owner;
• meter installation address;
• brand, model, serial number of the meter;
• meter readings. It is from them that the reporting of consumed water will begin;
• number of the supplier's seal installed on the meter;
• if the meter has already been in operation, then the date of its last verification is indicated;
• signatures of both parties.

The act must be drawn up in at least two copies - one remains with the supplier’s representative, the second is given to you. You shouldn’t throw it away, because at the first inspection by the supplier’s inspectors they will definitely ask you for it. And in case of any disagreement, the act can be the main document.

Below is a standard form and a sample act of commissioning water meters, a version of which can be downloaded for free.

Who does it and how quickly?

The responsibility for officially approving the meter as a water metering device rests with the owner of the home where communications are connected.

This person is burdened with the legal requirement to install a water meter and replace it in the event of a sudden breakdown or the expiration of the period between verifications. This obligation is established by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354.

A request to put the meter into operation must be sent to the contractor (representative) of the utility services. You must write a request to:

• management company
• HOA,
• consumer or housing cooperatives,
• a company that directly provides water supply.

Within a month from the moment of correct installation of the meter and sending a written application, the contractor has the obligation to complete the registration and allow the use of the device.

Important! Some CP providers set shorter deadlines, which can reach 10 days. If the seal was not installed during this period, a total period of one month applies.

Price

According to the above Resolution, the contractor is not charged a fee for placing a security seal.
Therefore, the requirement to pay the master will be illegal , except for the situation when re-placing seals after breaking previous seals or verification marks.

In such a situation, the service provider has the right to demand a fee indicated by the official price list, confirmed by the seal of the enterprise and the signature of the manager.

Installing seals on a water meter

After the initial installation of a water meter or replacing an old water meter with a new one, the procedure for installing seals is mandatory.

The seals are installed in such a way that the integrity of the seals or sealing wire is broken by any attempt to violate the integrity of the metering unit.

If the water meter has been verified, the specialist inspects the seals and sealing wire, and if the seal and wire are in satisfactory condition, he may not change the seal.

This completes the first stage.

Procedure step by step

The procedure for officially putting accounting equipment into operation can be divided into several stages:

1. Collection of documents confirming the meter’s compliance with current standards.
2. Applying to the management company or other organization providing services with an application for official approval of the device.
3. Carrying out the necessary actions by an employee with special knowledge.
4. Creation of paper confirming commissioning (act).

The listed actions have their own characteristics that need to be taken into account. But once you understand this procedure, communicating with a specialist and submitting an application will not cause any difficulties.

Collection of documents

In order for the procedure to be completed faster and to avoid the need to replace the meter due to the lack of documents for it, a list of documents is being prepared.

First of all, this is a statement that tells you which device needs to be put into operation, when it is convenient and other details.

Some other papers are also required:

• a copy of the passport for the meter;
• verification documents (unless a new device was purchased).

This list is sufficient for a specialist to carry out quality work and assess the technical suitability of the device.

They cannot demand any more papers, including receipts for payment of debts and documents for housing.

How to write an application - sample

The application for putting the meter into operation is drawn up in free form, since there is no clear template established by law. Some management companies and service providers provide users with forms to fill out, where they just need to enter the data.

If this is not the case, you will have to write the paper manually, it stipulates:

1. Personal information of the property owner is written in the upper right corner; not only the full name is required, but also the main passport details, the location of the property, and a current telephone number.
2. Desired date and time when the owner will be home and ready to receive a visitor.
3. Technical data about the meter itself - its type, the number designation assigned at the factory, the place where it is located.
4. Information about the organization that completed the task of placing the metering device.
5. The numbers on the scoreboard available at the time of approval.
6. Planned period for the next verification.

You don’t need to enter any more information, all that remains is to put the owner’s signature and the date the document was drawn up.

Submitting papers

After completing the application and preparing the documents listed above, you need to send the papers to the utility service provider.

You need to use a legal address, and you can submit your application in several ways:

1. Through a representative , another person may well carry the papers, but this will require the issuance of a power of attorney.
2. In person - during business hours, the applicant can come and submit the papers to the office or the appropriate department, receiving a copy of the application with an acceptance stamp. This is the most effective option, which also involves the issuance of a document proving the appeal.
3. By mail - suitable for a person who is not able to visit the housing and communal services office during business hours. The letter must be registered and with notification of receipt, then the received notification will start the countdown of the period for providing the service.

After submitting the application, all that remains is to wait for the management company’s response. This may be a call to agree on a time and date; in some cases, there may be no response and the specialist will arrive at the appointed time.

Introduction to work

The recipient of the petition must send his representative at the most convenient time and date for the client for the device approval procedure.

Usually this is an inspector or controller, whose work consists of several stages that do not last long.

Data Exploration

The specialist is provided with accompanying documentation for the meter; this is his passport prepared by the manufacturer.

The following are subject to verification:

• unique product number assigned by the manufacturer;
• equipment;
• recommended accommodation option.

If the meter has already been used, then a representative of the management company has the right to check the date of the last verification; this is a mandatory requirement. If inconsistencies arise during the control process, this is stipulated in the final report.

Work control

During the study, it is checked how correctly the counting equipment works and whether it correctly displays water consumption. A specialist can open taps, use special devices, the main thing is that in the end the counting mechanism is in working order and does not show signs of interference.

At the same stage, the correctness of the installation scheme is checked; as a rule, the distance from the entrance of the pipe to the home and the presence of a check valve play a role.

In the same way, if there is any malfunction of the meter, it is not allowed to be used; the specific reason is displayed in the final documentation.

Recording readings

The technician takes readings at the time of inspection , which is necessary for the correct calculation of utility bills.

They are entered into the deed and then transferred to the utility provider.

It is from the difference between these data and the subsequently provided figures that payments are calculated.

The owner of the premises needs to ensure that the data is entered correctly ; cases often arise when the master rewrites data with violations.

This may lead to incorrect calculation of payments, and it is in the interests of the owner to monitor the work of the specialist.

Sealing

To prevent future unauthorized entry into the metering device, the specialist provides the device with seals. The factory mark should already be present ; its presence confirms that the tenant did not try to interfere with the operation of the equipment until it was put into operation.

Control seals protect the meter body from opening and subsequent design changes; antimagnetic seals prevent the counting mechanism from braking. It will be impossible to remove them, since permanent marks will remain on the case; in addition, there is a spine that is added to the commissioning certificate.

Attention! The representative of the contractor must inform about what will happen if the seals are broken. If no explanations were given, the owner has the right to demand this, because by putting his signature, he approves the result of the master’s actions.

Drawing up an act

Based on the results of the visit of the authorized person, a report is prepared and approved stating that the counting device has been approved for use. It is created in two identical versions (for the owner of the premises and the representative of the management company), and is also signed by both parties.

The paper displays important information:

• date and time when the device was officially launched;
• its location;
• information about the specialist responsible for the correctness of the procedure;
• information about the meter, including its own number, location instructions, type;
• starting numbers on the scoreboard;
• notes on the placement of seals specifying the installation point;
• date of the next verification.

If, during inspection, discrepancies between the device and the document, violations in its operation, or other non-compliance with the law are discovered, the company may refuse to accept the IPU. This must be indicated in the act, after which the owner is obliged to correct the situation and request an additional procedure.

The procedure for drawing up the act

This document is drawn up by the person who sealed the water meter. Each management company has its own ready-made form. Which must comply with the requirements of the law.

Sample of registration of acts of commissioning of water meters:

1. The title of the document is written at the top.
2. Next, the place and date of drawing up the paper is indicated. The expiration date of the device will be counted from the specified date.
3. Then the name of the legal entity, BIN, address, and contacts of the party supplying water are written down. Information about the employee who went to the applicant and installed the seals.
4. Under this, the owner’s details and the address of the apartment or house are indicated.
5. Then the technical characteristics of the measuring device and seal are indicated: number, model, brand. If the water meter was connected by an individual independently, then the date of inspection is recorded.
6. Then the numbers shown on the display are written down.
7. At the very end, the parties put their signatures.

The applicant must read the text carefully before signing. If typos, errors and corrections are found, he will need to request a new one. Since such shortcomings can cause serious problems when replacing and checking the metering device.

If the document meets all legal requirements and has no deficiencies, then the user is required to sign. After this, one copy of the protocol will remain with the user. The parties are obliged to ensure the safety of the paper. It will be required during inspections.

Violation of deadlines

If a written request is submitted from the moment the device was installed, compliance with the deadlines is on the conscience of the contractor. He has only 30 days from the receipt of the application to put the meter into operation. If the day and time appointed by the applicant are not suitable, the housing and communal services have the right to offer other convenient conditions.

Attention! A transfer is not permitted for more than 15 working days from the date the application was received by the utility service provider.

If the IPU is not accepted for operation within the prescribed period, or is unilaterally postponed for more than 15 days from the submission of the application, the procedure is cancelled.

The metering device is considered officially accepted and operational from the date of submission of the application ; further claims by the housing and communal services supplier are impossible and simply illegal.

Evidence of non-compliance with deadlines will be a document acceptance mark or mail notification, which should be presented in case of problems.