Following complaints about high water bills after smart meters were installed, Texarkana Water Utilities said customers will get a clearer look at when water is being used. The utility is preparing to offer hourly usage tracking so residents can better tell whether a bigger bill reflects normal consumption or a problem.
Called My TXK Water, the portal is intended to help customers catch leaks, running toilets, and other unexpected water use before those issues lead to higher monthly charges.
Here's what to know
According to TXK Today, Texarkana Water Utilities will introduce its My TXK Water portal in four phases.
After receiving access, customers will be able to view water use by the hour, day, week, or month, allowing them to monitor consumption during a billing cycle instead of waiting for the bill to show the total.
Texarkana Water Utilities is launching the portal after nearly a year of complaints from customers who said their bills rose following the installation of new smart meters, per TXK Today. By showing when water is being used, the system could help residents compare charges with activity inside the home.
Customers will also be able to set alerts for unusual patterns or continuous water use.
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Ahead of the invitations, Texarkana Water Utilities asked customers to make sure the email address and phone number on their water account are current. When a customer's phase begins, the utility will send an email with instructions for activating the portal.
What's being done?
Texarkana Water Utilities created a customer-facing dashboard so residents can monitor smart meter data during billing cycles.
That means customers can review usage before a month ends instead of discovering a possible issue only after a bill arrives.
"With this portal, customers will have the ability to see what's happening with their water usage throughout the month, rather than finding out after the fact," Texarkana Water Utilities Director Gary Smith said, according to TXK Today. "Whether you're trying to conserve water, keep an eye on your monthly usage, or catch a leak before it becomes a bigger problem, this portal puts that information right at your fingertips."
Where can I learn more?
Texarkana isn't the only place where new water meters have raised billing questions or uncovered leaks.
• Texas residents in Potosi faced a $4,500 meter demand while disputing utility fees.
• A homeowner got a $1,575 shock after a new meter exposed years of estimated billing.
• A renter learned a still-spinning meter pointed to a leak behind soaring bills.
• A simple blue-dye toilet test can reveal leaks before bills climb further.
• Turning off the tap while brushing can trim daily water waste and costs.
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