City of Billings Water Bill Fiasco: Auditing Begins this Month

Billings to Begin Utility Billing Audit with Help from Minneapolis Firm

Starting November 6, Billings residents will see representatives from SL-serco, a utility consulting firm, around town as they launch a comprehensive audit of the city’s utility billing system. SL-serco, selected after a thorough vetting process, will begin by checking residential water meters to ensure billing accuracy.

This audit comes after hundreds of water customers in Billings have experienced much higher than normal water bills over the summer. Some customers have reported their bills jumped from $100 +/- a month to over $1,000 a month. A recent public meeting to discuss the dramatic price hike drew dozens of outraged customers to City Hall, demanding the city explain.

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Billings water customers demand an explanation.

SL-serco, a Minneapolis-based company known for its work in utility consulting, will be auditing not only individual water meters but also the entire billing process, including fees, calculations, and automatic payments. To gather reliable data, SL-serco has randomly chosen residential accounts for electronic reviews of water meters. Some meters will also undergo physical testing for accuracy, with the property owner's permission.

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Billings officials say the audit, which will cost a total of $75,500, aims to ensure that residents are billed fairly and accurately for water, solid waste, wastewater, and stormwater services. The city plans to cover the audit cost through utility finances but will seek other avenues if the audit reveals issues outside of its control.

This audit includes an in-depth look at the billing system's software, data integrity, and the city’s communication efforts during recent billing changes. The results, expected by January 31, 2025, will be shared publicly, with SL-serco presenting its findings at a City Council meeting.

In a press release, City administrators said they will keep residents informed as the audit progresses, posting updates on social media and the city’s website.