NORFOLK, Va. — If you live in Norfolk, have you noticed your the cost of your utilities go up? On Monday, the city made a couple social media posts referencing "increased billing charges."
A Norfolk woman contacted 13News Now with that very concern. She said her September utility bill came back roughly triple the typical amount, and she can't think of a valid reason why.
In the aforementioned social posts, Norfolk city leaders cited a recent regular water and sewer rate bump along with longer billing periods.
"This billing period was longer, but it shouldn't be three times the normal amount," said mom of two Emily Lussier.
She was puzzled by one of her recent utility bills, that she described as "astronomical."
For the time period between July 28 and September 12, she said she owes approximately $623, amounting to roughly 27 hundred cubic feet (CCF).
"There's no way. had a plumber come out. He fixed some other things. We had a leaky tub faucet upstairs, and he said there's no way that would equate to 15,000 extra gallons of water," Lussier said.
The city said all services on the combined utility bill went through a regular annual increase in July, totaling an average monthly bump of $8.22 more than last year, according to an October 10 news release.
Norfolk leaders also said inclement weather events and meter reading staff shortages from the contracted vendor resulted in longer billing periods.
Still, Lussier does not think the math added up, and she believes other people are going through a similar situation.
"I would hope that they're not gouging people and that they're being true," she said.
A glimmer of good news, however: Lussier said her October utilities bill came back around its usual rate. But, she still has questions.
"How can one month have a meter spike with nothing wrong and no changes and then the next month be normal?" She asked.
"Norfolk Utilities' customer service team has reviewed resident inquiries and most did not reveal billing irregularities, only changes tied to the rate increase and extended billing periods," part of Norfolk's news release read.
The city went on to say: "The utilities meter reading contractor is working to stabilize its work force and get back to the normal billing schedule. Utilities staff is in communication with the contractor daily on its progress."
Homeowners can arrange to break up the payments over a three-month period, interest-free. State and regional bill assistance programs are also available.
For more information, you can call Norfolk Utilities' customer service line at 757-664-6700 or go to norfolk.gov/helpwithmybill.