Wastewater bill incorrect for ‘significant number of customers’

(Mark Batchelder/KXAN)
(Mark Batchelder/KXAN)

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Water and Austin Energy officials have discovered that 2014 wastewater averages for a “significant number of customers were incorrectly calculated,” according to a memo to the mayor and city council.

Instead of calculating the average based off of the appropriate three months, the averages were calculated and based off of either two- or four months.

According to the memo from Austin Energy General Manager Larry Weis and Austin Water Director Greg Meszaros, the miscalculation was “partly related to the numerous ice days during the wastewater averaging period” that happened this year. That reportedly changed the meter-reading schedule significantly, which then impacted the averaging calculation.

City officials broke down the group of people impacted into three parts: one-third whose average was set higher, one-third whose average was set lower, and another third whose average actually broke out even to what it should have been — the correct calculation based on the three-month cycle.

“Austin Water and Austin Energy have worked closely over the last few weeks to ensure the wastewater billing period for July 2014 going forward will use the correct calculation for the wastewater average based on three (3) months,” reads the memo. “For those customers that will have a higher wasetwater average in July, Austin Water has decided not to backbill these customers for wastewater bills that should have been slightly higher during the April through June billing periods.”

For those who will have a lower average this month, they will receive a bill credit if their wastewater bills should have been slightly lower for the April through current billing periods.

Bill credits should appears on an upcoming bill.

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