Residents of Collierville are facing a hike in their utility bills due to errors in meter readings, a mishap the Town of Collierville attributes to a former employee who has since been terminated. According to WREG, the issues steamed from the period of May through June when an employee, either due to not performing the readings or recording incorrect data, compromised the billing accuracy. This employee was dismissed on July 11.
The town released a statement assuring residents that the incoming bills might be higher than usual, reflecting the correct usage data, "We understand that this adjustment may cause concern but are committed to answering your questions and concerns," the town shared, pointing customers towards contact options for further inquiries and account monitoring, including their utility department's contact at 901-457-2240 or via email at [email protected], as reported by FOX13 Memphis.
In light of these events and past occurrences, with another incident reported in February 2023 when a different employee was also terminated for neglecting their meter reading duties, the town plans to overhaul their meter reading system. Collierville said starting in mid-August, they will begin replacing existing meters with automatic readers that should eliminate the chance for human error and offer a more transparent billing process for the community. "This new technology will ensure accurate readings and eliminate the potential for human error, providing a reliable and transparent billing process for all residents," Collierville officials announced in a plan dubbed the "AMI Project," an advanced metering infrastructure initiative reported by Local Memphis.
This transition towards the new technology arrives as a response to placate the justifiable concerns of town residents faced with adjustments in their budgeting to accommodate the more accurate, yet higher utility bills. For anyone interested in delving into the details of their bill or tracking past consumption, they are directed to the town's utility website for comprehensive insights.
