New meters mean city water bills could go up

Jackson residents could see higher water bills by the time 2014 comes to a close.

The city is currently in the process of installing approximately 65,000 new water meters. The meters will provide a more accurate tracking of water usage and that could mean higher water bills. Officials expect all of the meters to be installed by the end of this year.

“Greater meter accuracy will mean that actual consumption will be measured,” said Charles Williams, interim director of Public Works, in an emailed statement to The Clarion-Ledger. “Presently, the city is not capturing the actual consumption and is losing some revenue as residents are not fully charged for the water they actually use.”

With the new meters, actual usage will be key. The rates are not changing, and bills will still be based on what the household or business consumes per billing cycle. But as meters age, their accuracy goes down.

Williams used an example of an old meter with an accuracy of 80 percent. If a new meter has a level of accuracy of 95 to 100 percent, then there will be an increase in the bill.

The possible bill increases come after water rates increased 29 percent and sewer rates more than doubled last fall to help raise money for the city’s infrastructure. The extra money from those rate increases is supposed to help with the $400 million federal consent decree with the Environmental Protection Agency that was signed off on in 2012. The $400 million is the cost of fines and improvements to the city’s water treatment system.

The new meters are also part of a deal to improve the city’s infrastructure. In April 2013 the city agreed to a $90 million deal with Siemens. In addition to the meters, the money is being used to upgrade the city’s water plant and about two miles of sewer lines.

The new meters, being installed at no extra cost to residents, will allow residents to look at their water bill, water usage, account history and detect leaks in the plumbing, according to a news release from Siemens. Geilia Taylor, spokeswoman for Siemens, said 14,000 meters have been installed by workers so far.

When the city agreed to install the new meters and increase water and sewer rates, there were concerns about raising the rates for those who couldn’t afford it. As a result, the City Council set aside funds to help people pay their water bills. Those seeking assistance can contact the Hinds County Human Resource Agency.

The system with the new meters is a work in progress, Williams said. If something appears unusual on a bill with a new or old meter, Williams encourages residents to contact the city, and those instances will be investigated on a case-by-case basis.

Residents with bill questions should contact the Water Sewer Business Administration at (601) 960-2000 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.