Customers look for answers after OUC bills increase

ORLANDO, Fla. — Dozens of Orange County residents are looking for answers after their Orlando Utilities Commission bill spiked.

Some people who live in the Conway area said their bills increased as much as $50 to $100. They're now questioning the new digital meters that were installed by OUC.

"I just looked at it and said, 'Wow'," resident Mary Tiffany said.

Records show Tiffany pays about $100 per month in the spring, but last month she said she paid almost $50 more.

"Because we had such a cool, unseasonal month I was thinking I was going to get a lower bill, but then I got this, a really high bill," Tiffany said.

So she took to social media to see if anyone else was experiencing the same with their bill. More than 200 people responded to Tiffany and they all had one thing in common: digital smart meters recently installed.

"We all have questions. We have not gotten those answers," Tiffany said.

Eyewitness News reached out to OUC in hopes of finding out why the customers' bills were increasing.

"There is nothing wrong with these meters, they are probably more accurate than what we have before," OUC spokesperson Tim Trudell said.

OUC said the weather is part of the problem. This year in May it was 2-3 degrees warmer so customers paid more to use air conditioning, according to the company.

As for what else might be raising the bills, OUC can't really explain but said it would take a closer look at the homes affected.

WFTV