Thursday, February 23, 2012
Steve Fermier

Audio

WBAL’s Steve Fermier reports on the water service overcharges.

The Department of Public Works is responding to claims that tens of thousands of water customers have been overbilled to the tune of more than $4 million.

An audit by the city points to likely overcharges to upwards of 65,000 customers, with no adjustment records available to bills for more than 50,000.

DPW officials are planning refunds for 38,000 and tripling the size of the staff handling complaints.

But one DPW official told The Sun that there is no fixing the billing system that is now in place.

In some cases some homes were getting only estimated bills for years on end.

Others got no bills at all. DPW recently moved to begin the process of replacing some of the older meters.

Water and sewer rates have gone up 9 percent in the past 3 years.

DPW serves more than 400,000 customers in the city and surrounding counties.