You Ask: Who fixes the meter that caused a $1500 water bill?
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- A showdown between the water district and a customer revealed that meter hadn't been working right for more than a year.
The family said it's the water district's responsibility to fix the meter and refund the lost debt, but the water district is charging them with a bill they say they can't afford.
Mickie Potter shows the new water meter the Las Vegas Valley Water District recently installed. He considers himself conservative when it comes to water usage. He hasn't even drained his pool in three years. That's why the Potter family was surprised to see their latest water bill come in at more than $1,500.
That's after saying they averaged around $70 back in late 2009, but in April 2010 the water district says their bill changed.
"She was paying a minimum bill, between $8 and $10 a month as I understand it," says Roger Buehrer with the water district.
A notice was sent making the Potters aware of bill corrections expected in future bills. Backpay for the last 14 months. Showing us paperwork, the Potters tell us of their frustration with understanding how the water district got their corrected readings from a faulty meter.
"How do they determine what the amount is that they owe if their meter is faulty? Where are they getting their numbers," asks Sue Potter, Mickie's daughter.
But the numbers are in, and the water district says their service rules allow them to charge restitution.
"For us to just say well, we're just going to write it off, that's not fair to the rest of our customers," says Buehrer.
Fairness is what the Potters are looking for which is why they want to know how the water district is getting their numbers.
"We would pay that, but not no fifteen hundred and six hundred dollars! That's ridiculous," says Mickie.
So for now, the water district says they are trying to meet the family half way by extending their payments almost three years.
The family says that is still too much for a fixed income family to afford. The Potters have not decided what, or if they can do anything at this point.
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