Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utilities Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council averages disputed water bills after leak complaints; approves adjustments for multiple accounts
Summary
Newcastle City Council approved adjustments to individual utility accounts after customers reported leaks or billing spikes, directing staff to average prior 12 months for affected meters and approving specific adjustments for March and April where service dates or deaths affected billing.
The Newcastle City Council on April 14 approved adjustments to multiple utility accounts after citizens reported unexplained spikes and billing disputes.
At item 8b the council reviewed the Turner account (service address 2640 NW 301st Street). James and Kimberly Turner told the council that a large August bill — about $800 — followed installation of a new meter and a multi‑month search for a leak; the Turners said plumbers eventually located a small leak in December or January. Council members discussed averaging consumption across a prior period and noted seasonal watering could explain some spikes. The council approved a motion to average the prior 12 months for the meter that experienced the leak.
At item 8c staff presented a request for account 06207800 (service address 1921 South Highway 76), with Jerry Shockley representing the account. Staff recommended adjusting the March and April bills — which spanned the date of a repair and a billing cutoff — to the average of the prior 12 months. The council approved the adjustment.
For an earlier item (8a) staff reported an account at 1321 Brooks Drive (Cheryl Woolman) had paid in full and no action was recommended.
Council members said they can use a 12‑month averaging method, or a symmetrical three‑month before/three‑month after average, to address anomalous one‑time spikes. The motions passed on council votes.
Council instructed staff to process the approved adjustments and to notify the affected customers.
