The acting governor of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Couto, vetoed the bill that established that water meters installed or reinstalled by water utility companies should be placed inside properties or in locations authorized by owners. The proposal had been approved, in a single discussion, by the Legislative Assembly of Rio (Alerj) with the goal of reducing theft of these devices.
In the veto justification, Couto claimed that the bill could increase utility costs and harm consumers, with possible pass-throughs in tariffs. The state government argued that the measure would generate additional expenses that would be incorporated into the amounts paid by users.
The Alerj proposal was similar to a rule that already exists in the capital city of Rio de Janeiro. It would be up to the owners, tenants, or those responsible for properties to choose for the installation or reinstallation of water meters in external areas. The exception to this rule would only occur when there was a technical necessity from the utility for installation in a specific location.
