CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Chesapeake residents have voiced concerns over high water and sewage bills for some time now.
After an annual rate increase went into effect Jan. 1, residents are now dealing with longer billing periods. However, Chesapeake Public Utilities Director David Jurgens said this isn't a permanent change.
He said a typical billing period is around 62 days. But currently, residents are seeing about 75 days.
According to Jurgens, there are several reasons for the longer billing cycles, like new software.
“That billing structure and software change has caused us to be a little slow. We wanted to make sure we were accurate, so we double-checked every bill," Jurgens said.
Jurgens also pointed to the holiday season and weather as reasons for the longer billing cycles.
"November is our hardest month because of all the holidays," he explained. "Honestly, the weather is a challenge as well because it's harder to read [the meters] when it's cold..."
Jurgens said the department is dealing with staff vacancies.
“We’re reading those 72,000 meters every two months. We’re having to read those with four people instead of seven," he said.
But Jurgens said crews are working to get back on track. He said he’s increasing staff and that crews are working overtime.
“It’s going to take us about three or four more weeks to get caught up," Jurgens said.
Jurgens said once crews are caught up, they’ll shorten billing cycles in the future to compensate for the large bills residents are seeing now.
The utilities department is making payment plans to help residents with the larger bills. Anyone with questions about payment plans can call Public Utilities Customer Service at 757-382-6352 or email water@CityOfChesapeake.net.