Pamela Dred urges clarity on energy bill statements at Concord Green meeting

Frustration over billing practices took center stage at the Town of Concord Municipal Light Board meeting on May 14, 2025, as residents voiced concerns about the clarity and accuracy of their utility bills. One resident expressed dissatisfaction with receiving bills that do not accurately reflect the month of usage, highlighting that an April bill was based on March's consumption. This confusion has persisted for years, leading to calls for a more straightforward billing system.

The resident urged the board to ensure that future bills clearly indicate the actual usage period, suggesting that a bill labeled for April should reflect usage from April 1 to April 30, rather than including days from the previous month. This sentiment was echoed by another attendee, Pamela Dred, who emphasized the need for clarity over simplicity in billing information. Dred argued that customers deserve transparent and comprehensive data rather than oversimplified summaries that may obscure important details.

Dred criticized the current billing format, particularly the use of visual comparisons that she found unhelpful. She proposed enhancements to the graphical representation of energy usage, advocating for the inclusion of previous years' data to provide a clearer context for current consumption patterns.

The discussions highlighted a significant push from residents for improved communication and transparency from the Municipal Light Board. As the board considers these concerns, the focus will likely shift toward refining billing practices to better serve the community's needs and enhance customer understanding.