Two lawsuits have been filed against the City of St. Petersburg over unexpectedly high water bills, following complaints from thousands of residents who received charges hundreds or even thousands of dollars above their usual amounts.

On Thursday, the St. Petersburg City Council took steps to assist affected homeowners, including eliminating the requirement to hire a plumber or repair a leak to qualify for a refund. However, despite these efforts, officials have yet to explain the billing discrepancies clearly.

Attorney Matt Weidner, whose own home was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, filed a lawsuit Monday accusing the city of breach of contract and deceptive trade practices. He also filed a separate suit on behalf of a 92-year-old woman facing a $10,000 water bill for a vacant home, as she resides in a nursing facility.

“Nobody was in that house. Makes no sense whatsoever,” Weidner told WTVT.

Thursday’s council meeting left him frustrated, as city staff maintained that meter malfunctions were not to blame.

“The analysis was wholly unsatisfactory. I heard almost no discussion at all of what is the real issue, which is consumption,” Weidner said.

While staff presented various theories, they have yet to determine the root cause of the problem.

“Whether it’s a glitch in the matrix, a hardware issue, or a software issue, something needs to be identified, and I think we will figure it out over time,” said City Councilman Mike Harting.

Previously, homeowners were required to prove a leak in order to qualify for relief. Now, the city has implemented a more flexible approach.

“It gives us some flexibility to help homeowners beyond just proving a leak. There are now streamlined procedures that eliminate a few steps, making relief available faster,” explained City Council Chair Copley Gerdes.

Weidner hopes his lawsuits will hold the city accountable and urges affected residents to speak up.

“My phone is ringing off the hook. I can’t possibly help everyone. People need to email city council with their cases because the only way this gets fixed is if they fully grasp the problem,” he said.

The city has now paused late fees and service disconnections for those with unusually high utility bills. The city council is also considering ordinance changes to provide better long-term support, with discussions set for March.

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(Image credit: WTVT)

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