Water bills for some Somerville residents were estimated under older meters. (Photo: Laura Nawrocik via Flickr)

A program to replace broken water meters in Somerville has been changed to avoid more residents seeing surging bills, said Demetrios Vidalis, director of Water and Sewer.

He spoke at the City Council’s Public Utilities and Public Works Committee on Monday in response to an order by council president Ben Ewen-Campen and Ward 5 councilor Beatriz Gomez Mouakad, who want the city to go further – including a forgiveness period for the unexpected surges resulting from inaccuracies.

The old meters, Vidalis said, had transmitters that were “no longer communicating with our systems.” Bills were estimated based on prior use and once the meters were replaced – in a program begun at the start of the year and now about two-thirds done – actual water use readings were obtained.

“In some instances, the estimates were lower than in the past, and in other instances, the estimates were higher than what we saw for actual usage,” Vidalis said. “When the estimates were lower, you will see the volume on your bill the number of units that you were undercharged in the past, and if you were overcharged in the past you will see a credit for those number of units on here.”

Estimated bills were indicated, but only by being marked with an unexplained letter “E.” The department has made that more clear on new bills. “As of last month, there are inserts in the bills that explain the meter replacement program and the potential for the adjustments on the bill and what they’re reflective of and some frequently asked questions,” Vidalis said.

Protocols have been put in place to prevent the situation from recurring. The department is also working on a “ratepayer assistance program,” Vidalis said.

Ward 4 councilor Jesse Clingan, chair of the committee, asked if the program would include an option to spread out payments.

“We’re going into it wide open and willing to listen and develop everything that comes forward and do our best to ensure equity and affordability of water and sewer bills,” Vidalis responded.

The city does not shut off water due to lack of payments – a safeguard implemented during the Covid pandemic that has continued, he said. The city allows for up to a year to pay back bills with a 14 percent annual interest rate.

Departing councilor at large Charlotte Kelly said residents who are already having a hard time paying their water bills should not be forced to pay interest as well, especially at such a high rate.

“That is an astronomical cost for folks,” Kelly said. “I hope that we don’t shrug this off, and that we figure out how to lower if not completely eliminate that interest rate. Quite frankly, it’s inappropriate.”

The incorrect water bills are not the responsibility of the residents, Gomez Mouakad said.

“It’s not like they failed to pay their bill or anything like that. There was a piece of equipment that was faulty, and we didn’t change it on time,” she said. “I don’t think a homeowner should pay interest for something they had no control on changing.”