The City of Columbus is currently in the process of upgrading water meters with new models as part of the ongoing Enhanced Meter Project. Installations will occur in the City of Upper Arlington beginning in January 2024, with the first phase happening at residential and commercial properties located south of Zollinger Road. Installations will be performed at no additional cost to customers. Property owners will receive a notice in the mail and a door tag with instructions to schedule a date and time. New meter installations will take between 30 to 90 minutes to complete and require an adult to be present.

For a detailed map and timeline, click here.

*Failure to have a new meter installed will result in the disconnection of water service.

To schedule an appointment, check installation dates, and more, visit //columbusemp.org/index.html

Why is this project being done?
The Columbus Department of Public Utilities has approximately 300,000 water meters. These meters are aging and becoming obsolete. As many cities have done, the City of Columbus decided to upgrade to more modern and advanced metering infrastructure to mitigate the risk of inaccurate billing. The department is partnering with Sensus and Utility Metering Solutions on the Enhanced Meter Project (EMP) to replace, upgrade, or retrofit all water meters over the next few years.

How will customers benefit?
By upgrading to what is known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), the project enhances customer service, resulting in improved efficiency and meter accuracy. Benefits include alert notifications that customers can set up on a future portal, such as high consumption and leak alerts. These features provide customers with a better understanding of consumption patterns and inefficiencies, allowing them to adjust their habits and prevent high utility bills. Earlier leak detection is possible for water customers, and immediate outage notifications to the city is enabled for power customers to improve electricity restoration in the future.

Will there be a cost to customers?
The cost of meter replacements was planned for and built into the water, sewer, and power rates. There will be no additional cost to Columbus utility customers.

How can I identify the installation crew?
Appointment confirmation is sent to residents to allow them to prepare and expect the installer. To assist residents in the identification of the contractor’s installation crew on site, the meter installer will carry city-issued identification.

Do I need to schedule an appointment to replace my water meter?
Yes. Water meter replacements require an appointment to be scheduled as the water meter is usually located inside the house. The installer requires clear access to the area surrounding the meter. To book online, visit columbusemp.org and click “Schedule Appointment.” To book by phone, call 833-232-3202 (Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).

Is there anything else I need to do?
Please keep pets indoors and away from the installers during the timeframe your meter is scheduled to be replaced, and please ensure the path to the meter and area around the meter is clear.

For water meter replacement appointments, an adult (18+) must be present to provide access to the installer. It is also important to note that, since water service may be interrupted for a short period of time; water appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers should not be used until the water is turned back on.

What should I do if I encounter an issue after installation?
Please call the EMP 24-hour emergency number at 844-903-1207 to report a water leak following a new water meter installation, loss of power following an electric meter replacement, or any other concerns.