Jackson Officials Try To Collect Back Pay On Water Meters

The installation of new water meters in Jackson, MS has meant that some residents are receiving water bills above $1000. 

Previously billed using estimates, residents are now being charged for their exact usage. And since the meters found that some people had been paying less than they were truly using while estimates were still in place, now the city wants to make up the difference. 

Jackson Public Works Director Keisha Powell explained the dilemma. 

"It looks like some people's meter hadn't been read in sometime when new meters were installed," Powell told the Clarion-Ledger. 

In one instance, a customer got a bill for $6000. 

Powell "said the customer was allowed to keep water on while paying less than the amount owed and the balance continued to rollover," the report said. "Powell said it appears some people haven't had meters read in a long time and water usage has been based upon estimates instead of actual use." 

"The city is working on a case-by-case basis to see if adjustments need to be made to certain water bills, Powell said," WAPT reported. 

Ward 7 City Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon is investigating the issue. "Barrett-Simon said there has been a myriad of complaints recently about water billings, including residents receiving high bills and some having water turned off immediately after receiving bills," the report said. 

City council members had expressed hesitations about the new meters during the installations, according to the Jackson Free Press in May. 

"Unlike in the current water system, where residents could open the metal box that encases the meter and shut off the water in cases of emergency—which also made it easy for people to manipulate to get water illegally—the new meters are remote controlled, which also saves the city water department from having to send employees to turn water on and off." 

Siemens subcontractor M.A.C. & Associates LLC was hired to install the new digital meters. A total of 65,000 homes will become equipped with these meters during this project, the report said.