An outside review of Amarillo's new utility billing system found that bills were calculated correctly under the city's rate ordinance, the City Council heard. The review, by NewGen Strategies & Solutions, covered bills from April 6 through Aug. 31. It found that more than 99% of billed lines tested matched the ordinance. The review did not determine why some residents received abnormally high water bills, and it did not test any meters.
Mayor Cole Stanley said the math in the billing software checks out. He said other parts of the system, including the transponders that send meter data to a tower and the data transfer to the server, remain unknown. Council Member Les Simpson said the city will talk with the vendors involved and work with residents who received abnormal bills. Council members said those vendors still need to explain why some residents are seeing double or triple their normal usage.
City staff will develop a formal dispute protocol, add on-the-ground checks for leaks and report back on resolved cases. The council directed staff to hold late fees and shutoffs until definitive answers are found.