Storms stymie meter readers, so 1,750 water bills estimated

Inclement weather prevented Central Arkansas Water crews from reading meters in certain areas this month, resulting in about 1,750 customers in Little Rock and North Little Rock being billed estimated charges Friday.

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Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

A map showing the locations for Central Arkansas Water estimated water bills.

The customers affected were sent bills for their estimated water use for the month, which was calculated using an average of their usage in previous months. Central Arkansas Water will correct the charges on March statements if a customer's estimated amount turns out to be below or above their actual usage.

"What led to this was February is the shortest month and it had the President's Day holiday, and on top of that, over the last two weeks we have lost portions or all of almost six different workdays out of 10 workdays due to the weather," said John Tynan, Central Arkansas Water's director of customer relations and public affairs.

Three clusters of customers will receive the estimated bills. The largest group -- about 900 accounts -- is an area in Little Rock along Stagecoach and West David O. Dodd roads near Interstate 430. Many of those are commercial customers.

About 320 customers along and south of Kanis Road from the Chenal Parkway intersection to Iron Horse Road and 30 customers nearby off Denny Road were also affected in Little Rock.

In North Little Rock, about 500 customers in the Crystal Hill area will have estimated bills.

The affected bills amounted to about 10 percent of the 17,000 water bills the utility sent out Friday.

"We do everything we can to avoid estimating bills," Tynan said. "It has occurred before, but I will say having this number at one time is extremely rare."

The agency can't delay billing customers a week until the meters are read because accounting rules require the utility to send bills within the month. All 1,750 affected bills will include an explanation about the estimated charge.

Tynan said it's important to remember that "when the bills from February and March are combined, the affected customers will be paying for their actual usage."

Metro on 02/28/2015

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