At meetings with Charlotte City Council and north Meck mayors, CMU officials pledge improvements, including an end to shutoffs.

By ALEX GREGOR
DavidsonNews.net

After numerous public meetings and a lengthy review of water metering and billing, Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities says it’s committed to providing better service. An action plan presented to the Charlotte City Council last week proposes improvements ranging from adopting new metering equipment to adding staff to evaluate suspect bills.

The utility has been under scrutiny for months because of complaints about erratic and inaccurate water bills. For some water customers, including those whose water has been shut off for nonpayment, the changes can’t come soon enough.

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By STEVE HARRISON
The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities customers will likely face higher water and sewer bills for the upcoming year. Read the full story

Concord Road will be closed at Lorimer Road this week while Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities installs a section of new 16-inch water pipe. The closing is planned from Thursday at 6 p.m. until sometime Saturday night. However, the road will be open during rush hours Friday. Detour info below and on map.
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A worker directs traffic Tuesday at N.C. 115 and Washam Potts Road. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

Work continues this week on two utility and road projects on N.C. 115 in and near downtown Cornelius. Traffic was backed on Tuesday as construction sites at Catawba Avenue and Washam Potts Road both were down to a single lane with alternating north/south traffic.

Construction crews are working on N.C. 115 at Catawba in preparation for the opening of a new section of Catawba Avenue into the Antiquity Cornelius development east of the railroad tracks. Meanwhile, a second project has one lane closed just south of downtown, at N.C. 115 and Washam Potts Road. Read the full story

Utility proposes increase to close $14M budget shortfall; several scenarios on table.

By STEVE HARRISON
The Charlotte Observer

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Utilities likely will ask the Charlotte City Council for a rate increase to close a nearly $14 million budget shortfall for the upcoming fiscal year, the utility told a City Council committee Thursday.

The utility, or CMU, has had rate increases each of the last five years, including a steep increase approved in April 2008. That increase was passed after the 2007 drought led to water restrictions, depriving the utility of revenue.
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Cornelius officials say the N.C. 115/Catawba Avenue intersection in downtown Cornelius will remain closed through Saturday as utility work continues. The intersection was supposed to reopen Thursday. The closing means detours will remain in place through Saturday.

By ALEX GREGOR
DavidsonNews.net

CORNELIUS - A citizen task force formed to investigate claims of high water bills and poor service from Charlotte Mecklenburg Utilities (CMU) says the utility needs to change its tiered billing structure and improve customer service to rebuild “public trust.” The task force presented findings of a two-month study about the utility at a public meeting Monday night at Cornelius Town Hall.

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