RENO, Nev. (AP) - About 11,000 customers who get water from the Truckee Meadows Water Authority will remain on a flat rate for at least two more years.

Plans to force the remaining people still on a flat rate to go on meters were postponed by the water board -- largely because of complaints by senior citizens on fixed incomes.

Truckee Meadows Water Authority board member Dave Aiazzi justified the two-year delay, saying the authority has no more storage room for the water saved in the conversion until the long-delayed Truckee River Operating Agreement takes effect.

It would provide additional water storage for the water authority's 93,000 customers.

Aiazzi, a Reno councilman, and Reno Mayor Bob Cashell had been the most ardent supporters in requiring meters now. But they said they changed their minds after hearing from people over the last two months.

They were joined in the five-to-two vote by citizen member Mike Cate, Sparks Councilman Ron Smith and Washoe County Commissioner Robert Larkin.

Sparks Mayor Geno Martini and Sparks Councilman Mike Carrigan opposed.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)