I just got slapped with a one month utility bill, (water,sewer, electric, trash) by the city of Anderson in the amount of $1,013.34!
Of course I called and complained, telling them there has to be a screwup, and the person on the other end of the phone told me that I "had been receiving estimated bills for the prior 6 months of the year and that this was just catching up due to an actual read".
First of all, why in the hell did the city go to the extra expense of installing electronic meters if they aren't going to drive by my house and read them? One of the reasons they utilized in validating this extra expense was the elimination of estimated reads. Well, where the hell has the person who reads our meters been the last 6 months? I think it is a bunch of crap myself, and a scam used to drain the citizens of this city of their funds.
Read your bill every month! If it is estimated call and complain as loudly as you can about it. Moving forward I am going to call them every month that my bill comes in estimated. :rant: :rant: :rant:
I was under the impression that what they installed on the elec meters was like the water meters and the read was done automatically and no one had to drive by any longer which was why all the meter readers lost their jobs.
Quote from: me on October 01, 2009, 03:07:30 PM
I was under the impression that what they installed on the elec meters was like the water meters and the read was done automatically and no one had to drive by any longer which was why all the meter readers lost their jobs.
I have the electronic version for both electric and water, and whether they have to drive by or can read them from the office, it was not done. Estimated for the prior 6 months, and guess what? This months electric portion is also estimated! :rant:
But I think you might be right about them supposedly being able to read them from a central location. So why in the hell wasn't it done??? :rant:
for about 1 1/2 yrs now that place has been a zoo. :mad:
Quote from: me on October 01, 2009, 03:14:43 PM
for about 1 1/2 yrs now that place has been a zoo. :mad:
I am sick of this city punking everyone! It is about time somebody punked them back!
Last year I ran sprinklers on my lawn for two months, and paid some hellacious bills for it; to the tune of 400-600 dollars each month. Because of it I decided that I wasn't going to pay the CoA for liquid gold any longer, and did not water my grass; not even one time. THEN I get sandbagged by them anyway! :rant: That's bull*$##. There has to be something that can be done about this crap!
Heck this whole month we have not had the AC on in the house, just to economize and try to maintain the utility bills at a manageable level; and so they punk me for it! :rant: :rant: :rant:
That is messed up. They are supposed to be able to read the meters from the central office. That the Wifi that they installed all over the city of anderson was done to enable that.
My electric, water etc for the month was actually a couple of dollars cheaper than last month.
Was it just one part of the bill that was way up or all of it equally? If it was just water and you don't have any soggy areas in your yard, check under your house if you have a crawlspace. My mother had a "small" leak under her house and it never was bad enough to "flood" the crawlspace but it sure did raise her water bill.
We kept our well for watering the lawn, washing cars, etc. Still have to pay electric for the pump but it still comes out cheaper.
Quote from: Anne on October 01, 2009, 06:00:55 PM
Was it just one part of the bill that was way up or all of it equally? If it was just water and you don't have any soggy areas in your yard, check under your house if you have a crawlspace. My mother had a "small" leak under her house and it never was bad enough to "flood" the crawlspace but it sure did raise her water bill.
We kept our well for watering the lawn, washing cars, etc. Still have to pay electric for the pump but it still comes out cheaper.
Water. And we are on a slab so no crawl. If the pipes had burst we'd be at least knee deep in the 11,500 gallons of water I supposedly used. And the yard is so dry the dirt feels like concrete.
They're scamming me! :rant:
Quote from: Palehorse on October 01, 2009, 06:08:32 PM
Water. And we are on a slab so no crawl. If the pipes had burst we'd be at least knee deep in the 11,500 gallons of water I supposedly used. And the yard is so dry the dirt feels like concrete.
They're scamming me! :rant:
Ah, check your toilet flap. In this hard water they go bad quick and let a little water leak and then refill and you might not notice. I've had that happen numerous times and just happen to catch it at the right time. They usually need replaced around once a year on average.
The bill still shouldn't have been estimated though and you would have caught it quicker if that is it.
Quote from: me on October 01, 2009, 06:33:31 PM
Ah, check your toilet flap. In this hard water they go bad quick and let a little water leak and then refill and you might not notice. I've had that happen numerous times and just happen to catch it at the right time. They usually need replaced around once a year on average.
The bill still shouldn't have been estimated though and you would have caught it quicker if that is it.
Nope. All 2 years old, and the house has been on conditioned water since almost day one due to the hard water. And I check them every month anyway when I sanitize the throne reservoirs.
I just spent 2 hours talking to these jackasses and getting nowhere with them. Make a long story short, they just giggled and laid it on me. (I paid the damned thing).
Funny, they can tell me exactly how much water I used sinc ethe last read, but they have to estimate my bill for the last 6 months??? WTH!
City council meeting here I come! :rant:
READ YOUR UTILITY BILLS
Recently I received a utility bill that included over $900.00 for water and sewer charges for one month! When I went to the office and spoke to a manager about it, I was informed that it was a "catch up" bill for the previous 6 months!
Each of us that live within this community has paid for an electronic meter to read our water and electricity charges each month. This extra expense was paid by every home owner in the city of Anderson, and after we paid it an overwhelming number of people that read the meters each month were laid off; because they now can read your meter from the office! So why are we getting estimated bills?
Look at your utility bill each month, and if there is an "E" next to the meter read, call the office at the number on the bill and complain. Or better yet:
If you have been victimized by this sandbagging tactic, plan to show up at the city council meeting and voice your anger over this unconscionable tactic being utilized by the city of Anderson!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2009
7:00 P.M. - COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
Voice your concerns BEFORE they victimize your family too!
If 6 months of my urine and turds are worth $789.00, I think I'll start crapping and pissing in a bucket.
Effectively it is costing me $.08/gallon to use the water around here. :spooked:
Quote from: Palehorse on October 05, 2009, 06:04:47 PM
If 6 months of my urine and turds are worth $789.00, I think I'll start crapping and pissing in a bucket.
If you had been paying a minimum bill for those 6 months it figures out even more.
Quote from: Palehorse on October 05, 2009, 06:04:47 PM
If 6 months of my urine and turds are worth $789.00, I think I'll start crapping and pissing in a bucket.
Good idea and then take the bucket down to city hall to empty it! :icon_twisted:
Quote from: Exterminator on October 06, 2009, 10:38:21 AM
Good idea and then take the bucket down to city hall to empty it! :icon_twisted:
:icon_twisted:
Humm. . .
In the course of discussing this problem with people I now understand that the electronic meters communicate via a signal that is supposed to be picked up by the grid of transducers that have been installed throughout the city in various locations. Now I don't know yet what these transducers look like, but yesterday evening what appeared to be a city utility truck appeared across the road from our subdivision.
It was stopped at a utility pole there. (Our subdivision has no utility poles since everything is underground.) When I heard the sound of hammering I looked over to see him attaching a white barrel shaped device to the pole at about chest height. It is about the size of a propane tank for a gas fired grill, and has what appears to be a thick black umbilical coming from it. I assume this to be the wiring for whatever it is, but it is not hooked up yet. I wonder if they've finally got around to installing one of these transducers close to our subdivision???
And it's getting worse for everyone in Madison County.
http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/local/local_story_292192303.html
Published October 19, 2009 07:15 pm - ALEXANDRIA - The Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 to increase the county option income tax on Monday.
Alexandria Council OKs tax increase
The Herald Bulletin
ALEXANDRIA - The Alexandria City Council voted 6-1 to increase the county option income tax on Monday.
Carol Walker, the newest member of the council, cast the only "no" vote.
Anderson City Council voted in favor earlier this month. Elwood City Council and Madison County Council have set meetings for Oct. 26 to consider the tax increase. If either council votes in favor, the COIT will be adopted.
Anyone wish to take any wagers this is a 'done deal'?
I'd say it is. They have to pay for the new Ivy Tech building some way. :mad:
Rotten thieves are going to continue to rob us blind! :mad:
In the interest of fairness I am updating this topic.
I opened my utility bill today and found a 33% credit, leaving me with zero balance due and another 165 bucks on the account.
I am thankful that this correction was provided to me, and at the time of year when it is certainly most appreciated; especially now.
I don't know who is responsible but my thanks to them for it.
Since the initial complaint I have not received another estimated bill, and believe me it is one of the first things I look at after the amount due. :smile:
That is great.
yes virginia, there IS a Santa Clause.... :razz:
That is awesome news PH.... :yes:
A new year and I see the same old bologna is underway at the city utility offices. An article in the Herald Bulletin reports on yet another large group of the citizens of this city being victimized just as I was back in August of 2009.
The same old reasons for explaining it away are still being used by the city too. This is nothing but a bunch of bullcrap and someone had better get on top of this situation in a damned hurry! :mad: :mad: :mad:
Since I had my experience I have read, and kept copies of, every single bill I have received; and thus far I have had no additional estimated readings. . .
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1221291770/Electric-bills-shock-customers (http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1221291770/Electric-bills-shock-customers)
Quote from: Palehorse on January 16, 2011, 06:25:11 PM
A new year and I see the same old bologna is underway at the city utility offices. An article in the Herald Bulletin reports on yet another large group of the citizens of this city being victimized just as I was back in August of 2009.
The same old reasons for explaining it away are still being used by the city too. This is nothing but a bunch of bullcrap and someone had better get on top of this situation in a damned hurry! :mad: :mad: :mad:
Since I had my experience I have read, and kept copies of, every single bill I have received; and thus far I have had no additional estimated readings. . .
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1221291770/Electric-bills-shock-customers (http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1221291770/Electric-bills-shock-customers)
You should do the same with the gas company too...Definitely learn to read those meters so you can call them on it if they say it's an actual read and you know better. :wink:
Quote from: me on January 16, 2011, 06:28:12 PM
You should do the same with the gas company too...Definitely learn to read those meters so you can call them on it if they say it's an actual read and you know better. :wink:
Believe me, I do!
Quote from: Palehorse on January 16, 2011, 06:25:11 PM
A new year and I see the same old bologna is underway at the city utility offices. An article in the Herald Bulletin reports on yet another large group of the citizens of this city being victimized just as I was back in August of 2009.
The same old reasons for explaining it away are still being used by the city too. This is nothing but a bunch of bullcrap and someone had better get on top of this situation in a damned hurry! :mad: :mad: :mad:
Since I had my experience I have read, and kept copies of, every single bill I have received; and thus far I have had no additional estimated readings. . .
http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1221291770/Electric-bills-shock-customers (http://heraldbulletin.com/local/x1221291770/Electric-bills-shock-customers)
You know from whence these continuing problems originate don't you? The meters and the software were purchased by the last administration - Kevin Smith's administration - and the system is experimental, expensive, and faulty and AFAIK has NEVER worked correctly. A VERY bad move from Smith for Anderson.
Now where I can find fault with the current administration - Kris Ockomon's administration - is that I'm unaware that there is anything being done to either force the company to replace/repair/remove the faulty meters and software and or get a refund and damages so the city can return to the old mechanical meters.
Quote from: Y on January 21, 2011, 01:21:04 PM
You know from whence these continuing problems originate don't you? The meters and the software were purchased by the last administration - Kevin Smith's administration - and the system is experimental, expensive, and faulty and AFAIK has NEVER worked correctly. A VERY bad move from Smith for Anderson.
Now where I can find fault with the current administration - Kris Ockomon's administration - is that I'm unaware that there is anything being done to either force the company to replace/repair/remove the faulty meters and software and or get a refund and damages so the city can return to the old mechanical meters.
Ockey changed the software when he took over to supposedly make things easier. Going to the utility office is now a joke. Even the people who work there don't like it.
Quote from: me on January 21, 2011, 01:52:54 PM
Ockey changed the software when he took over to supposedly make things easier. Going to the utility office is now a joke. Even the people who work there don't like it.
What do you mean by "Ockey changed the software"? My understanding is the meters and the software are proprietary, which would mean if the software was changed the company changed it, not 'Ockey'.
Now I've never been much of a fan of the utility office, but the problem here isn't theirs - or Ockomon's - fault, it's the fault of Kevin Smith for buying a 'pig-in-a-poke' with taxpayer monies.
Quote from: Y on January 21, 2011, 02:48:04 PM
What do you mean by "Ockey changed the software"? My understanding is the meters and the software are proprietary, which would mean if the software was changed the company changed it, not 'Ockey'.
Now I've never been much of a fan of the utility office, but the problem here isn't theirs - or Ockomon's - fault, it's the fault of Kevin Smith for buying a 'pig-in-a-poke' with taxpayer monies.
Seems strange though that the problem just started last year with the "estimated" bills. Ockey made a lot of changes up there after he took office and not all for the good.
Quote from: me on January 21, 2011, 03:10:18 PM
Seems strange though that the problem just started last year with the "estimated" bills. Ockey made a lot of changes up there after he took office and not all for the good.
No, the problems were there from day one with Smith's administration but were DISCOVERED during Ockomon's administration.
AFAIK, the supposed changes are in trying to make the 'pig-in-a-poke' system work.
Quote from: me on January 21, 2011, 01:52:54 PM
Ockey changed the software when he took over to supposedly make things easier. Going to the utility office is now a joke. Even the people who work there don't like it.
I don't live there so I can't say, but the fact that the employees say they don't like it, doesn't usually mean anything. They say that to relate with the customer so that you'll stop yelling at them. Customer service 101. :biggrin:
Quote from: Y on January 21, 2011, 04:07:28 PM
No, the problems were there from day one with Smith's administration but were DISCOVERED during Ockomon's administration.
AFAIK, the supposed changes are in trying to make the 'pig-in-a-poke' system work.
The meters were being installed in 2007. I know that for a fact because when we built the house they mandated their installation on new homes. We have the new water meter on the old house, but still have the old electric meter, so they've still not completed the installations.
I believe the problems became apparent when more and more homes began utilizing them after installation. I know the water meters were installed in Meadowbrook starting in July of 2007, and in late 2007 I began hearing about the problems. I didn't experience it myself until 2009 , after having the meters working correctly for 2 years.
One of the problems has been that the "receivers" for these meters were not located in some of the areas where they needed to be so that they could receive the signals from the homes with the meters. Only after I raised a stink in August 2009, as did a number of my neighbors, did the city finally locate a receiver right across the road from the subdivision. Thus far that seems to have cured the problem in this area.
Now, surrounding the meters themselves, it is my understanding that the city is saying that the meters have batteries in them that are going dead. I am not so sure I believe that but that is the excuse they are using.
The fact that the issues with the system did not begin to become apparent, and as wide spread, until after the transition of administrations had taken place, and IMHO no one followed through in properly debugging the system and/or beating the company the system was purchased from about the ears to make good upon their promised performance milestones.
Any "software" issues I have heard about appeared to be more related to "change" than it was the functionality of the software itself. If Ocky changed the billing software, and it does not interface properly with the meter reading operating system, then that is solely on him, as well as the failure to properly follow through on assuring the system that WE paid for is performing as promised.
Now that is not to say the Smith doesn't hold any blame in the whole FUBAR situation. It does appear that someone didn't do their homework in order to assure the system was robust enough to handle the number of homes and businesses it is now serving. And, I would have expected that a training initiative would have gone along with any software required to support this system, as well as a validation of its functionality and ability to properly interface with any existing or new billing software program . . . Clearly, those things either did not take place, or someone failed to make them happen. . .
Quote from: Sandy Eggo on January 21, 2011, 05:08:35 PM
I don't live there so I can't say, but the fact that the employees say they don't like it, doesn't usually mean anything. They say that to relate with the customer so that you'll stop yelling at them. Customer service 101. :biggrin:
I was in the office and seen the software work. It was a baby system that was not user friendly in the least. The graphics even had the old 3.1 look to them.
Atlanta (CNN) -- Imagine paying as much for water as you do for your mortgage.
Residents throughout Atlanta are outraged by hundreds, even thousands of dollars in monthly spikes in their water bills, and have questioned the legitimacy of the charges for years. Now, they're demanding answers.
"I thought we were sinking in a hole of water," said Debbi Scarborough. "It scared me to death. I thought we had a major leak when I got the bill."
Over two months last summer, her family's monthly water bill, shot up to $1,805 In July and then $1,084 in August, leaving a balance due of more than $3,000. She said in the past her bill has averaged $200 to $250.
"I'm not paying a $3,000 bill. And for those three months, we were pretty much out of town most of the time and there's no leaks," she said, showing CNN a copy of her plumber's report. . .
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/01/water.bills.war/index.html?hpt=T2 (http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/01/water.bills.war/index.html?hpt=T2)
Quote from: Palehorse on March 01, 2011, 12:50:49 PM
Atlanta (CNN) -- Imagine paying as much for water as you do for your mortgage.
Residents throughout Atlanta are outraged by hundreds, even thousands of dollars in monthly spikes in their water bills, and have questioned the legitimacy of the charges for years. Now, they're demanding answers.
"I thought we were sinking in a hole of water," said Debbi Scarborough. "It scared me to death. I thought we had a major leak when I got the bill."
Over two months last summer, her family's monthly water bill, shot up to $1,805 In July and then $1,084 in August, leaving a balance due of more than $3,000. She said in the past her bill has averaged $200 to $250.
"I'm not paying a $3,000 bill. And for those three months, we were pretty much out of town most of the time and there's no leaks," she said, showing CNN a copy of her plumber's report. . .
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/01/water.bills.war/index.html?hpt=T2 (http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/01/water.bills.war/index.html?hpt=T2)
:spooked: :spooked: