Metering Differences

What are “metering differences”?

The difference between the volume of water passing through the main water meter of a property and the total volume of water measured by all the private meters in the same property, for the same billing period.

Metering differences are divided between all consumers in the property, and the relative part is added to the private water consumption of each consumer.

Metering differences are a result, among others, of the shared uses in a building, such as the maintenance of shared property, cleaning, garden irrigation and other uses. Metering differences may sometimes result from leaks in the shared water pipelines.

What are “negative metering differences”?

In rare cases, the volume of water measured by the main water meter is lower than the total volume measured by all the dedicated meters. In such cases the metering differences are negative.

Negative metering differences may be the result, for example, of rounding the readings of water meters (consumer billing is usually made by whole cubic meters).

Negative metering differences are divided between consumers in the same way as positive metering differences. In other words, consumers are credited for their relative part in any negative metering differences.

How metering differences are divided

By law, the default way of dividing metering differences is equally between all the consumers in the property.

However, consumers may submit a request to divide metering difference according to the relative area of each property in the condominium, or by any other method agreed upon by the tenants and specified in the condominium’s statute. In order to change the way metering differences are divided, the condominium’s representatives are required to submit a formal request with the relevant documents to Mey Sheva’s customer service department.

For buildings registered as condominiums:

1. A written request, signed by the representatives of the condominium, to divide metering differences in accordance with section 58 of the Land Law.
2. A letter of appointment for the condominium’s representatives.
3. Abstract of title for the condominium.

For buildings not registered as condominiums:

The documents specified in articles 1 and 2 above, together with a confirmation of the relative areas of the apartments from the local authority or the construction contractor of the building, or if such a document is not available, a conformation from a certified surveyor.