EWSU Makes Changes to Customer Billing Method

Evansville Water and Sewer Utility will soon be billing customers in a smaller unit of measurement in an effort to significantly reduce the monthly amount due and make the amount due on month-to-month bills more consistent.

You by the thousands - the service will now charge by the hundreds.

This could make a huge difference in carry over charges.

44news reporter valerie lyons - digs deeper into the savings - headed your way.

The plan turned into a year long project for ewsu -- but the department eventually found a way to better reflect the amount of water used on each bill.

Ewsu customers are used to seeing their water bills vary significantly month to month -- "we were guesstimating or picking up on the back end to kind of even out a person's bill."

Ewsu currently charges per every 1000 gallons -- say a customer used 950 gallons of water one month -- it's less than the 1000 gallon minimum -- so all 950 gallons would carry over to the next billing cycle -- and the customer would only pay the base rate of 36-67 that month.

Then the next month they use over 1000 gallons -- the rollover gets added on -- and this time their bill is closer to 80 dollars.

But under the new system -- customers will now pay per every 100 gallons.

Measuring usage in smaller amounts means customers will see more consistent month-to-month billing -- less fluctuation -- and a statement that's easier to read.

"it allows our customers to have a good idea, every month, of what their bill is going to be rather than sort of these spikes and 'oh well this was a good month we got the low bid and now we've got extra, but we know next month it's coming'" it's a change customers have long been waiting for.

"i just think that overall it's just going to be a great benefit, it's going to be savings, everyone likes to have money in their pockets and everyone just likes to see evansville being able to think about the residents - it's utility customers."

And it isn't the only way ewsu is trying to help customers.

While rate increases were approved through 2021 to help pay for federally mandated sewer upgrades-- evansville mayor lloyd winnecke says there will -- not -- be a sewer rate increase next year.

"our goal is to minimize rate increases over the next several years as a result of the economic situation brought on by the pandemic."

The city hopes the extra savings and new billing system will provide financial relief for those struggling from covid-19.

Ewsu customers will see the new billing method go into effect on october 15.

Reporting in evansville -- vl-44news.