Some St. Petersburg residents have reported unusually high water bills that are more than double their typical amount. Last week, the city council accelerated discussions on the issue, scheduling it for further examination on Feb. 20. If you’ve received a significantly high water bill, you’re not alone.

Residents’ Complaints

Many residents have reached out to city leaders, expressing concerns about unexpectedly high bills, sometimes amounting to thousands of dollars without a clear explanation.

City Council’s Response

During a Feb. 6 meeting, city council members vowed not to shut off water for unpaid bills. “I don’t want anybody’s water to get cut off because they owe $2,000 when they should owe $200, OK?” council member Gina Driscoll stated. The council voted 8-0 to fast-track the issue for the Feb. 20 meeting.

Necessary Code Changes

Before addressing the water bill discrepancies, the council must amend the city code that currently prevents their intervention. City administrator Rob Gerdes described the code as too “stringent” and not broad enough to cover the current issues.

Billing Issues

Assistant city administrator Tom Green and interim billing director Candice Winter briefed the council on the billing issues. Winter mentioned that billing discrepancies vary by case and cited storm-related damages, like broken pipes or leaks, as common causes. However, there are numerous cases where the reason for increased water usage isn’t apparent. The city code currently limits the billing team’s options to offering leak adjustments or payment plans.

Hurricane-Related Backlog

The billing department is working through a backlog of utility bills caused by hurricane-related disruptions and an annual water rate increase. St. Petersburg’s water meters were recently upgraded to digital technology, which is “better at detecting usage,” according to council Chair Copley Gerdes.

Resident Concerns

At last week’s council meeting, residents voiced their frustrations. Lindsey Anderson, speaking remotely, shared that her bill for her uninhabitable Snell Isle home was $1,000. Many residents have also expressed their concerns online. A Facebook post by St. Petersburg addressing water bill issues received 284 comments from distressed residents, including complaints of bills jumping from $130 to $600 and $150 to $1700.

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Further Investigation Needed

Council member Richie Floyd emphasized the need for more information to determine the extent of the problem. City administrator Gerdes instructed the billing department to provide data on every bill that exceeded 200% of the monthly average.

Utility Billing System

Council member Deborah Figgs-Sanders questioned whether the city’s antiquated utility billing system, NaviLine, was to blame. The system is scheduled for replacement in the coming year. Council members also discussed residents’ frustration with customer service.

Action for Affected Residents

Residents who received high bills are encouraged to continue paying their average amount and contact the utility services call center at (727) 893-7341. They can also petition their bill to the city’s Utility Billing Review Committee.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)