SAINT CLOUD, Fla. — Residents who are upset about their high water bills sounded off to the city of St. Cloud.
WFTV has been covering the story since last summer.
PDF: St. Cloud water rate comparison
Eyewitness News discoverec that people who live in St. Cloud pay more than people who have Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) or TOHO.
According to documents we obtained concerning potable water, OUC customers pay noticeably less in per-gallon costs.
Eyewitness News compared water rates for St. Cloud customers and neighboring residents. According to documents we obtained concerning potable water, OUC customers are noticeably lower in per-gallon costs.
TOHO and St. Cloud are neck and neck, although heavy users will pay more in St. Cloud than anywhere else. And that’s after paying three times what many others in Osceola County pay every month for the fixed meter fee.
“Like if you haven’t used your water at all, you still have the base charges,” said Linette Chambers, a St. Cloud water customer.
Many residents plan to air their complaints during a meeting Wednesday night.
The city of St. Cloud issued a statement:
“City staff is meeting with utility customers tonight (Wednesday) to discuss various topics related to water- and sewer-utility billing. Base charges and our tiered rates will be part of this discussion. We are committed to providing quality water and wastewater service to our customers and are willing to evaluate our rates for potential adjustments, as well as evaluating our systems for efficiencies. Larger utilities are often able to spread the base costs over a larger customer base, thus lowering individual base charges. The city’s rates are designed to provide a high-quality, reliable, secure, and safe water and wastewater system. Our irrigation rates for potable irrigation are designed to promote conscious conservation. The city’s primary goal is to provide long-term sustainable potable water for basic needs, i.e., cooking, drinking, and bathing. While OUC did manage our billing system, the rate structure was set by the city. OUC does not have in St. Cloud the rates they use in Orlando, as they are separate systems with different dynamics."
WFTV
