Overview

Stage 5 is where metering stops being a project and becomes the way the network actually runs. Meters move from assets in the ground to live operational tools, real data drives billing and insight, and customer interactions become part of everyday service. This stage stabilises systems, embeds new routines, and fine-tunes processes as real-world behaviour and performance emerge, the point where metering begins delivering sustained value.

Here are the core elements that must transition from project delivery into steady, reliable business-as-usual operations as the metering system goes live:

Operational go- live foundations

Meter Reading Operations & Performance Monitoring

Integration of systems,

Customer facing operations

Issue resolution pathways

Volumetric Billing Transition

Operational Intelligence and Reporting

Water UseConsumption Management Reporting Processes

Regulatory and Performance Reporting

Data Governance & Quality

Sustainable Systems Operation

Maintenance & Asset Management Integration

Continuous Improvement Framework

Stage 5 Key Takeaways

Stage 5 turns metering into day-to-day operations — meters go live, data flows, and customer interactions shift from project support to standard service delivery.

• • Seamless systems integration is essential — AMI, billing, customer portals, and query tools must work as one to deliver accurate bills and fast, confident issue resolution.

  • Customer-facing processes activate at scale — clear pathways for leaks, high-use alerts, disputes, and hardship support keep customers informed and the transition smooth.

  • Trial-read periods de-risk go-live — customers learn their usage, fix leaks, and adjust behaviour while providers test data, systems, and billing end-to-end.

  • Meter data becomes operational, planning and regulatory intelligence — powering leak detection, network optimisation, demand forecasting, stakeholder reporting, and better asset, network and investment decisions.

Where to next?