Coonamble Shire Council has given a 60-day extension on water bill payments for residents hit by faulty usage readings last year.
Council staff are working to verify the bill amounts for around 300 assessments made during the last quarter of the 2023/24 financial year.
The payment extension aims to reduce ‘bill shock’ for residents on town and village water supplies once the correct amounts are finalised and accounts sent out.
The billing problems arose when a third-party contractor calculated readings that deviated from what was shown on meters at some addresses in Coonamble, Quambone and Gulargambone.
A separate technical fault also meant some meter readings weren’t calculated in the April to June quarter in 2024.
“The technical fault has been resolved. Additional control measures are in the process of being implemented,” Director of Community, Planning, Development, and Environment Barry Broe said.
“The delay in correcting this issue has contributed to the delay in the levying of the 1st and 2nd quarter for the 2024/2025 financial year.
“Once the data validation is complete these will be raised as one bill. As this account will be for 6 months of water consumption, additional time will be allowed for the customers to pay.”
The extension will apply from when the correct bill is issued.
In December, council advised residents not to pay until the issue had been resolved.
Anyone who believes they were hit by faulty metering can contact Council for a new estimate and agree on payment methods.
Residents will have the option to pay in instalments.
“For small Councils such as Coonamble Shire, it is more cost effective to contract meter readers for a few weeks on a quarterly basis rather than employ full-time staff for this purpose,” Council General Manager Paul Gallagher said.
“On the other hand, electronic meters – while providing more accurate and timely readings – are costly per unit, susceptible to damage and do not have the longevity of the traditional meter.”