Concord customers notice spike in some water bills

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Concord resident Cheri Baker was paying about $45 to $55 for water each month then one month, she got a bill for $116.

"I was stunned," Baker said.

She vented on social media.

"Mine has jumped sky high as well," someone else posted.

"Other people are frustrated," Baker said.

Action 9 took their concerns to the city of Concord. City spokesman Peter Franzese said Concord's been upgrading to smart meters it can check remotely and that the switch threw off some billing cycles.

He told Action 9 most problems should be over but the transition to new meters won't wrap up until the end of this year, so customers could still see some unusual billing cycles between now and then.

Action 9 asked him, "Do you foresee more of these problems going forward or are we toward the end of it?  Are the growing pains over?"

Franzese said, "As far as this project, we're getting close towards the end."

He said each billing cycle is supposed to be 28 days. Some billing cycles for Baker were as short as 23 and 25 days and some as long as 34 and 36 days.

"It's frustrating. It's very frustrating. Especially when you're trying to pay bills and make ends meet," Baker said.

Cox Media Group