Residents of Gilbert are dealing with some headaches when they open their utility bills these days. A slew of increases and system changes are to blame, and the Town of Gilbert is stepping up to help confused and concerned citizens navigate the new waters. They assure that any issues with billing are being taken seriously, and their staff is on deck to iron out problems. "Identifying and resolving any billing issues is a top priority," a statement from the Town of Gilbert published on October 1 assures, recommending that residents contact them directly with concerns.
Why exactly might your bill seem to take a sudden spike? Gilbert officials point to a recent transition to a new Utility Billing Portal launched on June 30. Some accounts were in the middle of registration, which could result in carryover balances—so your bill may look a little more bloated than expected. To get a clearer picture, customers can log in right here. Additionally, new water and wastewater rate increases are at play; the exact impact will vary depending on your usage and meter size. Also, residents should be wary of the tiered billing structure that might push them into a higher rate with just a single gallon's difference, especially during high-use summer months. And don't forget those sneaky leaks that can add up quickly; Gilbert provides resources to track and fix these water wasters.
It's not all doom and gloom, though. The Town of Gilbert is offering a variety of programs to ease the burden and promote water conservation among residents. There are free water efficiency checkups and rebates galore, like up to $250 for smart irrigation controllers and up to $3,000 for those willing to ditch the grass for low-water-use landscaping. And for those feeling the pinch, there's a Utility Assistance Program that could shave off up to $30/month for qualifying households.
And what if you think your meter might be betraying you? The town acknowledges that the mass-produced AMI meters—over 50,000 of them—are not immune to the odd error. Gilbert Town Hall explained, "when water meters fail, they typically start underreporting water use." But residents can self-check with a simple test involving a 5-gallon bucket and some meter reading instructions available via video tutorial. Gilbert is also aware that in times of financial hardship, not every resident can quickly catch up on payments. Thus, a 120-day grace period was enacted during the billing system transition to prevent disconnections and offer some wiggle room.
