Legal Question in Consumer Law in Oregon

independently owned oregon water district adds usage charges.

Since our local privately-owned water bureau did not read our water meters last summer, they are going to read our water meters at the end of this month, go back to the first meter reading when i posessed the account 15 months prior, then see if there were any months exceeding alloted usage of our flat rate charged us monthly, then add those overages to our bill this month. If we have no overages and are under the allowed 3600 gal.per month, then they will take an average figure from the over 1300 households in their usage area, and add this to our monthly bill. This is ..what they told us..''playing catch-up'' to reimburse for shortages before the fiscal year begins July 1. Can they do this?,,since it is their fault they did not read our meters?.. They bill us a flat mo. fee for a minimum usage of 3600 gals. ($27.34/mo.), and almost all of us calculated we only use half during non peak seasons. We are all private residents. Can they do this to us?..who don't exceed mo. usage, and make us pay for other customers waste? This was told me straight from the water bureau president.


Asked on 4/15/08, 3:12 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Daniel Meek Daniel W. Meek

Re: independently owned oregon water district adds usage charges.

Call the Oregon Public Utility Commission and see whether the private utility water bureau is subject to regulation there. Several of them are. I believe it depends on their size. The OPUC may have rules pertaining to their billing practices.

This web site does not allow the posting of phone numbers, so google Oregon Public Utility Commission and call the complaint line.

If the OPUC does not forbid these sorts of abusive practices, you can stop this sort of abuse permanently by creating a People's Utility District and condemning the property of the water utility. The utility would then be a public entity governed by an elected board of directors.

Send me an email if you are interested in forming a People's Utility District (PUD).

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Answered on 4/15/08, 4:15 am


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