Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utility Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves billing adjustment for customer after reported toilet leak
Summary
After a resident reported a constant toilet valve leak and a sharply higher two-month water bill, council approved adjusting the customer's January and February bills to the prior 12-month average.
Newcastle City Council approved an adjustment to a residential water account after the customer told the council a toilet valve had been leaking and caused unusually high bills.
The resident, who identified herself at the podium as Mikaela Morris, said she received a notice that she owed roughly $500 for one bill and a later bill showing over $1,300. She said the leak was an internal toilet valve; she had the valve repaired and reported that the most recent bill returned to her normal range (about $120'$160). She told the council she did not have documentation of a plumber visit but said the bills and the repaired valve indicated the problem had been resolved.
City staff recommended adjusting the account by averaging usage over the prior 12 months but excluding the two high months. The council voted to modify the utility account for the January and February billed months using an average of the prior 12 months (excluding the high-use months); the motion passed unanimously.
Council members thanked the customer for attending and urged residents who suspect leaks to contact the water department. Staff did not specify whether the city would require proof of repair for other similar cases; in this instance the council approved relief based on the customer's explanation and staff recommendation.
