❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses inaccuracies in water meter readings following a change in contractors, with the Minister acknowledging startup difficulties and outlining quality assurance measures. Specific suburb-level data is unavailable.
AnsweredQoN 289Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
289. Hon. P.G. PENDAL to the Minister for Water Resources:
(1) Is it correct that errors and other problems in water meter readings occurred since the new contractor took over the work in March this year?
(2) What type of inaccuracies and problems became evident?
(3) How many householders were affected in the suburbs of -
(a) South Perth;
(b) Como;
(c) Manning;
(d) Kensington;
(e) Karawara;
(f) Waterford; and
(g) Salter Point?
(4) What is being done to ensure accurate meter readings are carried-out in the future?
(1) Is it correct that errors and other problems in water meter readings occurred since the new contractor took over the work in March this year?
(2) What type of inaccuracies and problems became evident?
(3) How many householders were affected in the suburbs of -
(a) South Perth;
(b) Como;
(c) Manning;
(d) Kensington;
(e) Karawara;
(f) Waterford; and
(g) Salter Point?
(4) What is being done to ensure accurate meter readings are carried-out in the future?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 September 2000
Response time
34 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) The new contractor experienced start up difficulties in taking over the contract part way through a meter reading cycle. These problems are being progressively addressed by the contractor and the Corporation.
While the error rate is currently above that required by the contract, it must be remembered that the contract target is set at World's Best Practice.
(2) The types of errors being detected are typical of those encountered in utility meter reading activity whether performed by contract or utility labour. This includes over reads, under reads and stopped meters not being reported.
(3) Data is recorded by account number and not suburb, therefore details requested are not available.
(4) The meter reading contractor is required to have an effective quality assurance program in place to filter and detect errors made by meter readers.
Additionally, the Corporation has enhanced its own quality assurance schedule to monitor the effectiveness of the contractor's program and to provide independent audit of the meter reading process.
The contractor has also taken positive steps to provide further training to the field based staff.
(1) The new contractor experienced start up difficulties in taking over the contract part way through a meter reading cycle. These problems are being progressively addressed by the contractor and the Corporation.
While the error rate is currently above that required by the contract, it must be remembered that the contract target is set at World's Best Practice.
(2) The types of errors being detected are typical of those encountered in utility meter reading activity whether performed by contract or utility labour. This includes over reads, under reads and stopped meters not being reported.
(3) Data is recorded by account number and not suburb, therefore details requested are not available.
(4) The meter reading contractor is required to have an effective quality assurance program in place to filter and detect errors made by meter readers.
Additionally, the Corporation has enhanced its own quality assurance schedule to monitor the effectiveness of the contractor's program and to provide independent audit of the meter reading process.
The contractor has also taken positive steps to provide further training to the field based staff.
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