Town leaders to discuss water billing errors | Business

CAROLINA BEACH, NC (WECT) - Carolina Beach town leaders will discuss what to do about a nearly $400,000 billing error during their meeting on Tuesday.

A recent water loss study led to a more comprehensive physical check of accounts which identified billing problems all the way back to the 1980s.

Town workers identified issues such as some accounts with no monthly billing, incorrect billing rates, and wrong water meter sizes which led to incorrect rates being charged. The total three year loss identified in the check was $358,362.  

Town Council will discuss options for collection the money owed to the town. Council will also discuss moving forward with a  comprehensive rate study that would audit the entire system.

This is not the first time Carolina Beach has found problems with water bills.

In 2011 the Town changed their water billing rates during the 2010-2011 fiscal year, and they were also in the process of updating their bill collecting software. As a result of the changes, a large number of customers were being billed at the older, cheaper rates.  

Council meets on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

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