Home › Forums › Open Discussion › anyone receive an extremely high sewer bill during past billing cycle?
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February 14, 2010 at 4:39 pm #688401
jwwsParticipantOur bill doubled – we’re normally around 17 CCF but we DID have a leak – our main waterline broke at the point where it enters the house – no standing water or water in our basement was evident but it was obviously leaking for some time. The only way we discovered the leak was I started to hear running water, shut off water supply to the house and still heard running water. I went to the meter and sure enough it was running while the water main to the house was off so I shut the water supply off at the meter and no more sound of running water/running meter. Of course all this happened on a weekend while hubby was at Crystal ski instructing so I got to live without water for a few days then we dug up our front yard (losing all my oriental lilies and God knows how many perennials in the process) found and repaired the leak. Got a $510 water bill – OUCH. Called up SPU and was told there is a leak rebate program which you can apply for in writing. Have done so but am still waiting to hear from SPU about any rebates. Bottom line, if your water bill seems high check for leaks inside and out and if you can access your meter read it, shut off water to the house and then read again – if the meter’s moved you got a leak between meter and house.
February 14, 2010 at 5:26 pm #688402
yumpearsParticipantWe have a house of 4 and our usual usage is 12 CCF, this last bill was higher at 14 CCF. It is high dollar-wise, but I don’t think I would have noticed if I hadn’t seen this thread.
February 14, 2010 at 5:40 pm #688403
BonnieParticipantWe have a family of 4 and we use 15 CCF per billing cycle. Same period last year was 16.
February 14, 2010 at 5:46 pm #688404
BonnieParticipantOkay, speaking of utilities has your electric bills been estimated for awhile? Ours has been estimated since last June/July. Every month it’s an estimate.
February 14, 2010 at 5:50 pm #688405
SueParticipantBonnie, our electric bill was estimated this past time, but not before that. If I were you, I’d call them on Tuesday to either get them out there and read it for real, or see if you can read it yourself and have a bill based on that. If they’re estimating too low, you’re going to get one hell of a bill at some point to catch up, or on the reverse, you’re paying extra money you could be using otherwise. And I’d definitely want to know what the problem is that they can’t get out and read it for 6 months.
February 14, 2010 at 6:34 pm #688406
JoMemberHow do you know when city light is ‘estimating.’
When I called about my uber-high bill they didn’t mention that being a possibility. I’m in an apartment complex, so I’ll check with some of the other tenants to see if their electric bill went sky high this billing cycle. City Light sure wasn’t very helpful.
February 14, 2010 at 6:51 pm #688407
jwwsParticipantJo
If your light bill is estimated it will say so under the meter reading in the Detailed Billing section.
February 14, 2010 at 7:20 pm #688408
JoBParticipanti think i need to look more closely at my utility bills:(
February 14, 2010 at 9:11 pm #688409
LSParticipantHaving never had a water/sewer bill at more than 3-5 CCF’s, then I’m trying to figure out how my current bill is at 9 CCF’s. Two adults, no laundry – can’t understand how we’re using more than 100 gallons/day.
Guess I’ll have to check for leaks. :(
February 15, 2010 at 1:27 am #688410
JoBParticipantwater consumption is accurate if they read your meter..
but isn’t sewer an estimate..
and that is based on sq ft of lot?
i think i need an education as well as a closer look at my bill
February 15, 2010 at 1:50 am #688411
tiggerParticipantfrom what I understand the water and Sewer potions should register the same CCF #. Example 5 CCF in (Water) 5 CCF out (Sewer). The only time you should see a difference is if not all of the water you used was going through the sewer due to watering lawns, cars etc. So if you are sure that all the water you used should have exited through the sewer and you are seeing a different water usage CCF from the Sewer CCF than something is probably not right
February 15, 2010 at 3:18 am #688412
JoBParticipantis there a sewer meter?
February 15, 2010 at 4:22 am #688413
jwwsParticipantThere is no sewer meter, as far as I can tell the city uses CCF in = CCF out (the sewer charges are the highest on the bill BTW) which is why if you have a leak try to get a rebate since the CCF lost to the leak didn’t go down the sewer but percolated through the ground…..
February 15, 2010 at 4:29 pm #688414
sam-cParticipantyes, I think the sewer CCF is based on the water meter- there is no sewer meter.
I remember talking to one of the gardeners during the last edible garden tour. there was some discussion about his unhappiness with that method as he had a professional system put in to treat the ‘gray water’ and re-use it for watering plants. so, his point was that he was not putting all of the water he used back into the sewer.
February 15, 2010 at 6:16 pm #688415
JoBParticipantand if the reading is now also based on sq footage on the assumption that if you have more land you are putting more runoff into the storm system… it really complicates things…
February 16, 2010 at 2:26 am #688416
lottMemberI looked at my bill because I too saw HUGE increases. In comparing the last five bills, this recent bill looks like this:
14.23 CCF @ $8.890 per CCF 126.51
10.77 CCF @ $8.980 per CCF 96.71
We are usually right around 10-11 ccfs….
Looks like a ton of phone calls are coming their way tmrw……
February 16, 2010 at 6:55 pm #688417
JoBParticipanti finally looked at mine..
the bill is a little higher
but the numbers
which are actual readings
are pretty much in line with past readings…
they are high for two people who care about conservation
and higher than we have used elsewhere
but they have been consistent
February 17, 2010 at 2:09 am #688418
westcoastdebParticipantMine almost doubled. Granted, there are 5 of us showering and such in this house, but even the spiffy little graph they put on the bills showed the same usage. Where we got screwed was the trash pick up. I was charged for more cans than I even have. 5 in one week. I dont even own that many cans. Somethings up and I hope someone gets to the bottom of it. I forgot to call today, so it’ll be next week before Im off at a time that I can.
February 17, 2010 at 3:34 am #688419
JoBParticipantFebruary 17, 2010 at 4:16 am #688420
HomerParticipantYeah, odd. Last bill was Water=7CCF Sewer=4.95CCF
This bill was Water=9CCF Sewer=9CCF
This is what caused my sewer rate to almost double…why would sewer and water not equate to the same CCF one month and not this month?
February 17, 2010 at 4:30 am #688421
WSBKeymasterAnyone actually call to talk with an SPU rep today?
My inquiry is out to the media team – and I am following up with a call tomorrow since I didn’t hear back today. But I’m just wondering if any of the folks who suggested they’d call, did, and if so, what you learned/were told …
February 17, 2010 at 8:33 am #688422
mrhinehMemberHere is a recap of how SPU rates have increased 25%+ in the past 3 years:
http://www.seattle.gov/util/Services/Billing/Rates_Summary/COS_001989.asp
And in an audit report, where the short falls in efficiencies fall, conducted last summer:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010094633_audit17m.html
The audit found “that the water-utility tax rate charged to the utility, set by the mayor and City Council, is nearly double the average rate charged by other Washington cities. The utility taxes that SPU and Seattle City Light paid in 2009 accounted for about 10 percent of the city’s total general-fund revenue.
While utility taxes are authorized by state law, there are no limits to the rates cities can charge to the utility, the audit found. ‘Without limitations, utility customers are at risk of unduly subsidizing general government operations through their utility rates,’ the audit says.”
February 18, 2010 at 4:23 am #688423
lottMemberWSB, I unfortunately have not had the chance to call, work was a bit crazy. I will definitely post as soon as I find anything out. Thank you so much for looking into it for all of us!
February 18, 2010 at 6:10 pm #688424
AimParticipantDitto what lott said. I’m also buried at work. Will post as soon as I get a chance to call.
February 19, 2010 at 9:34 pm #688425
lottMemberOk, let me see if I can figure out how to explain what was explained to me. (See I’m confused already!)
During the winter months, water usage matches sewer usage exactly as discussed above. i.e.
Water Service: 24.00 CCFs
Sewage: 10.00 CCFs
14.00 CCFs
During the summer months however, there supposedly is a “cap” on how much SPU charges for sewage due to higher than normal water usage for things such as garden watering, car washing, yada yada…. i.e.:
Water Service: 24.00 CCFs
Sewage: 10.00 CCFs (capped at 10 so the 14 extra is apparently free.)
I looked back at all of our bills and none are the same so I don’t know what I think of that explanation. The woman I talked to could not provide me ANY written guidance or policies pertaining to this so I ended up basically taking her word for it.
Anybody else find anything??
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