DRAFT: Resolution on water usage over-billing
Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2015 1:39 pm
CM Colleagues,
We continue to get calls on dramatic increases in measured water usage.
In last months PUC meeting, Austin Water made it clear they did NOT wish "profit" from the extraordinarily high water bills. While we continue investigating the root cause of the problem, we propose this draft Resolution on helping users cope with the high bills.
My current speculation on the problem is, Austin Energy and their contractor Corix Utilities have not been able to physically read all the meters on a monthly basis, leading to "catch-up" readings, which reflect several months of higher readings lumped into one very large reading. Of course we need cooperation from AE and Corix to audit this problem and get a final resolution. I'm looking forward to discussing this more in Octobers' PUC meeting.
RESOLUTION NO._________________ (DRAFT)
WHEREAS, the City Council has received numerous customer complaints about Austin Energy’s assessments of greatly increased water usage from residents; and
WHEREAS, judging from the dilapidated condition on some water meters, it does not appear that every water meter is being read each and every month; and
WHEREAS, only about 50 meter readers, contracted through Corix Utilities, are responsible for reading nearly 240,000 meters per month, and are only permitted to read meters as directed by Austin Energy billing staff, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
That the City Manager is directed to: compare the calendar 2014 year’s monthly usage to the 2015 year’s (thus far) monthly usage for residential and multifamily accounts; for accounts that are showing usage at over 200% the previous year’s usage for a given month, then any usage above the 200% will be billed at the 0-2,000 Gallons tier and no Water Revenue Stability Reserve Fund Surcharge will be included over the 200% usage level.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the City Manager will credit the accounts any difference in compliance with this resolution.
We continue to get calls on dramatic increases in measured water usage.
In last months PUC meeting, Austin Water made it clear they did NOT wish "profit" from the extraordinarily high water bills. While we continue investigating the root cause of the problem, we propose this draft Resolution on helping users cope with the high bills.
My current speculation on the problem is, Austin Energy and their contractor Corix Utilities have not been able to physically read all the meters on a monthly basis, leading to "catch-up" readings, which reflect several months of higher readings lumped into one very large reading. Of course we need cooperation from AE and Corix to audit this problem and get a final resolution. I'm looking forward to discussing this more in Octobers' PUC meeting.
RESOLUTION NO._________________ (DRAFT)
WHEREAS, the City Council has received numerous customer complaints about Austin Energy’s assessments of greatly increased water usage from residents; and
WHEREAS, judging from the dilapidated condition on some water meters, it does not appear that every water meter is being read each and every month; and
WHEREAS, only about 50 meter readers, contracted through Corix Utilities, are responsible for reading nearly 240,000 meters per month, and are only permitted to read meters as directed by Austin Energy billing staff, NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN:
That the City Manager is directed to: compare the calendar 2014 year’s monthly usage to the 2015 year’s (thus far) monthly usage for residential and multifamily accounts; for accounts that are showing usage at over 200% the previous year’s usage for a given month, then any usage above the 200% will be billed at the 0-2,000 Gallons tier and no Water Revenue Stability Reserve Fund Surcharge will be included over the 200% usage level.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That the City Manager will credit the accounts any difference in compliance with this resolution.