By Davi Stuhlsatz

HAYSVILLE – Nearly half of city residents’ water bills have been adjusted due to meter-reading errors this past fall.

“About 48 percent of our 3,700 customers were affected,” said Randy Dorner, Haysville public works director. “We hate to see that happen.”

Dorner said all the meters have been reread to ensure the bills are correct and reflect actual usage.

“They were not all negative,” he said. “Some received credits, some were lower than previous months, and some were higher. The bills reflect the water customers have actually used.”

Dorner gave an example of a customer who received low bills of $30 for two months in a row, and then a $120 bill. 

“The customer actually used $180 of water over those three months, but it was not correctly read in previous months, so they were underbilled then,” he said. “In addition to rereading the meters to make sure the bills are correct now, we are working with our customers and will allow them to make payments over time if necessary.”

Dorner said the problem was the result of a temporary agency employee’s inaccurate readings this past fall, and the employee is no longer working for the city.

“Our phone has rung off the hook,” he said. “We are doing everything we can do in our power to help this situation.”