Updated Monday, March 15, 2010, 8:04 a.m.
A task force looking into complaints of high water bills in north Mecklenburg will discuss a wide-ranging final report Monday that is critical of water provider Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities. The task force says CMU failed to comprehensively address problems with water meter radio transmitters, has long operated on a “questionable” business model, and is contemplating future capital projects that could mean more rate hikes for existing customers.

The Water Solution Task Force will present its findings to citizens at a meeting Monday, March 15, at 5 p.m. in the community hall at Cornelius Town Hall, 21445 Catawba Ave.

The independent task force, appointed by Cornelius Mayor Jeff Tarte, has been meeting in recent months to study property owners’ complaints about high water bills from Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities. It has prepared a 48-page report of its findings, recommendations and supporting materials.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities welcomed the meeting announcement. Spokesman Vic Simpson told WFAE-FM, “We’re looking forward to the stakeholders report, to learn more and to find new opportunities to improve.” (Listen to WFAE reporter Julie Rose’s Monday morning report, including comments from Simpson, CLICK HERE>)

Complaints first surfaced last fall at The Peninsula neighborhood in Cornelius. Homeowners in Davidson and other areas also have reported unexplained spikes in their bills.

The report’s executive summary lists a variety of concerns, including:

• CMU has used a “questionable” business model for years that set rates very low for low-usage customers and passed along costs to heavier users. That made the utility over-reliant on heavy users, the report says.
• The 2008 drought and watering restrictions cut revenues and required CMU to look for ways to boost revenues. A tiered pricing system shifted the burden to families with heavier usage.
• Future capital projects could place an unsustainable debt burden on CMU and more rate increases may be needed.
• CMU long knew that it had radio transmitter problems that resulted in billing discrepancies. “The Task Force believes these transmitters are a major contributing factor for spiked or high bills,” it says.

Jim Duke has chaired the task force. Members include J. Patrick Bechdol, Bret Chapman, Ron Charbonneau, Susie Drake, Don Hawk, Ron Kelley, Sam Marshall, Matt Thomas, Tony Tramontano, John Venzon, Robert Watson, and Robert Wenderlich.

LINKS

March 2009, Water Solutions Task Force Report, Executive Summary (PDF)

March 2009, Water Solutions Task Force Report, Full Report (PDF,large file 30mb)

Read DavidsonNews.net‘s previous coverage of the water-bill issue under the “water bills” tag.