If you have a plumbing problem in Dallas, you’d better watch your water bill for a year and then some
Posted By Mike Orren in Square Pegs on February 2, 2009
I don't know if it's SOP or the result of some kind of cutback, but it's obvious that at least in my part of town, Dallas Water Utilities isn't reading meters, but making their best guess at what you owe.
First, some backstory: About a year ago, we had a perfect storm of water issues at Casa OrWell. We had a major shower leak; a toilet pipe burst and some repair work on our pool. All of these combined to cause water/sewer usage more than triple our norm.
All was well until last month when we got slapped with a > $400 water bill. April had it on her to-do list to call Dallas Water Utilities to check up on it, but we've been super busy. It made it to the top of the list when we got the next month's bill on Saturday, for $459 (more than quadruple our norm).
Fearing another plumbing apocalypse, we called the City this morning and they confirmed that they hadn't read our meter in several months, but had been working off the prior year's numbers. They couldn't provide an explanation of why they'd been doing that.
Note that the bill (click to enlarge; emphasis mine) says: "...based on an average of your water use billed during the previous winter months (Dec-Mar) or your current month's water use, whichever is less."
Laura Seewoester, says:
Ever think to blame it on the pets?
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Verified
10 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Billusa99, says:
Mike... that part: "...based on an average of your water use billed during the previous winter months (Dec-Mar) or your current month's water use, whichever is less."
...Is for your sewer charge. Your water consumption is tracked in Dec-Mar, when it's lowest (i.e. not watering lawns). Then, your sewer charge all year is based on an avg of those months, or the actual consumption that month if it's lower (not likely in summer).
That's why you should never refill a pool Nov-Mar!!!
Anonymous
10 months, 1 week agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
kdonachie, says:
So are you getting any kind of adjustment or re-read?
Anonymous
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
kdonachie, they told us to pay the first bill and not the second and that they would send someone to read the meter and issue a credit that would probably cover our next few bills because of the initial overpayment.
BillUSA, correct on the sewer charge, but the point is that they did not track our water use Dec-Mar. In December and January, they estimated without reading the meter.
Staff
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
On December 24, we were billed based on a reading of 6903. On January 16, we were billed based on a "reading" of 7373. Today, the meter was read at 6456.
Free water all spring!!!!
Staff
10 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren, says:
Thought this was over. I was wrong.
On the meter reading, we were told not to pay the next bill because we were far ahead and that by the following bill a credit would be issued.
Yesterday we got a disconnect warning notice based on two additional bills that not only continue to badly overestimate water usage, but that do not reflect the re-reading.
To Dallas Water Utilities' credit, the nice lady I talked to in customer service today put a freeze on our account to stop disconnect and late fees. And she admitted that they were continuing to estimate rather than read, although she couldn't clearly articulate if the estimate was based on 12-month prior usage. That's unlikely as our water hiccup was over this time last year. Seems more like they started with 12-month prior then switched to recent-month.
Nothing on the bill indicates that it is an estimate.
I worry both for people getting overbilled and for Dallas Water Utilities, which (assuming this replays across many customers) has less money coming than it thinks.
Staff
8 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Rawlins Gilliland, says:
I'm in the same boat. Was dealing in two places with a leak, got it FINALLY fixed (not cheap) but the $100 extra each month bill continues to roll in. It's enough to make you want to throw rotting squash and otherwise compostable produce at random 'Re-Elect Rick Perry' signs after doing Crystal Lite and Midori shooters.
Verified
8 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
jtmbls, says:
Where is Becky Oliver when you need her?
Anonymous
8 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal