Louisiana Parish to test smart water meters after residents' bills soar

When a household water bill suddenly jumps from around $80 or $90 to more than $300, the problem quickly becomes more than a technical question.

In Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, residents have blamed smart water meters for a wave of sharply higher charges, prompting action from local leaders.

Here's what to know

After complaints piled up from residents who said their bills rose sharply following the smart meter rollout, Jefferson Parish leaders voted to pay LSU New Orleans to test the devices, the parish's news release and WDSU reported.

Marrero resident Glenda Williams Wallace said her September bill was so surprising that it left her stunned.

"I opened it up and I literally screamed," Wallace said.

Wallace said there had been no change in water use at her home: the house had already been checked for leaks, her husband died in January, and one fewer person was living there. Before that September charge, she said, her normal monthly bill was usually between $80 and $90. Then it jumped to $304.

"Look at the usage from November of last year all the way to now, and then you're going to tell me in September, with no leaks, I have a $304 water bill? And it's just me and four goldfish that live in this house," she said.

More background

Before approving meter testing, parish leaders had floated other explanations for the unusually high charges, including leaks, water use that had not previously been recorded, or an ongoing rate adjustment, according to WDSU.

Council Chairwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken said Wallace's account matches many others she has heard from residents.

What's being done?

To check the meters directly, the university will randomly choose 60 homes and test whether the devices are recording water use accurately, Van Vrancken said.

"They're going to randomly select 60 homes to participate. They are going to go out to those homes, check first if there's a leak. They're going to then run an amount of water like ten gallons, and see if the meter says ten gallons," Van Vrancken explained.

WDSU also reported that Wallace spoke with officials after the meeting and that water department officials will visit her home to try to determine what is causing her unusually high bill. If testing finds the meters are inaccurate, parish leaders say they will consider possible remedies for residents who may have been overcharged.

Officials are also discussing an appeal process for residents who believe their bills are wrong even after checking for leaks.

As Van Vrancken put it, "One of the other things we're also talking about is an appeal process, because if you get to the point where you say, 'I have a bill that's higher than normal. I've had a plumber confirm there is no leak.' Where do we go from there?"

Where can I learn more?

Similar disputes over water bills and leak investigations have played out elsewhere as utilities install new meters or raise rates. They include surprise charges, hidden leaks, meter disputes, and rate hikes affecting homeowners, renters, and small businesses.

• One homeowner got a $1,575 shock after a new meter exposed years of estimated billing.

• A renter facing huge charges learned a still-spinning meter pointed to a hidden leak.

• In Texas, residents challenged a $4,500 meter demand backed by water shutoff threats.

• In Virginia, customers called a nearly 30% increase unbearable for households and small businesses.

• A simple toilet dye test for leaks helped explain one family's sky-high water bill.

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