St. Robert and its residents aren’t the only ones dealing with record-high utility bills for January.
Waynesville is also seeing the impact of a 10-day stretch of single digit temperatures, rateincreases going into effect, and, in a few cases, longer billing cycles.
Brandon True was one resident who appeared before the Utility Committee on Tuesday because of price shock.
“When I opened my bill I was dumfounded,” True told the committee, sharing his bill was higher than $400.
True said he understood the weather had been colder than normal, but the bill was exceedingly high for his home.
Several things may be contributing to the higher amounts due, including potentially longer billing cycles.
Weather prevented some meters from being read on the typical 30-day schedule, and, as a result, some residents may be seeing bills for a 40-day cycle instead, City Administrator Bruce Harrill said.
Residents who think there may be an issue with their bill are encouraged to contact City Hall. Staff can check to see if residents are experiencing higher costs because they were impacted by the longer billing cycle or if there may be another cause for concern.
The city is looking at allowing residents who were billed for 40 days to pay part of their payment for January, and the remainder in February.
“You still have to pay your usage according to your meter, but we may be able to adjust that back,” Harrill said.
Additionally, an electric rate increase went into effect with the January billing cycle, and while the city has tried to absorb most the cost for its residents, it wasn’t able to take the full burden. That increase was a result of a jump in costs from Sho-Me Power, the city’s electric provider.
A natural gas increase also went into effect with the January billing cycle. That increase was delayed for five months as the city fights the transportation cost increase put in place by MoGas.
“We have had an increase in the rates,” Utility Chairman Mike France said. “We are fighting that right now.”
But the high bills are largely expected to be a result of abnormally cold temperatures.
“The colder it is, the more that furnace has to work,” Gas Supervisor Carl Pentecost, said. “And that’s going to cause your bill to be higher.”
