Just imagine it. You go online to pay your routine bills, to include your ECUA bill for water, sewage and garbage. Ho hum, just something you do once a month.
But when you log in to pay your bill, you spit coffee through your nostrils and adrenaline pumps through your body and your blood pressure skyrockets as you see something that CANNOT be right---a bill that is normally around a hundred bucks is $7,326.00 dollars!
What!?! (picture the Allstate Commercial where the guy on your door cam starts smashing your car window and you aren't there to stop him from doing it)
What?!? Seven Grand!!!
Making matters worse--you quickly realize this isn't a "mistake."
Uh oh, spagetthi o's--or as Scooby Doo might say "Ruh-Roh Raggy!!"
In this instance of a true story that unfolded yesterday afternoon/evening--------the bill was, in fact, correct. Apparently--the culprit was a water leak on the property-owner's side of the meter that was not noticed by anyone. (not sure how, but that's a question for another time I guess--once folks calm down and come back from the ledge)
So what do you do? Well, you --the property owner---quickly contact your county commissioner--- (who has no play in this at all-- by the way--but whatever: I am here to help!)----who quickly forwards the issue to his ECUA counterpart--and lo and behold there is an explanation. And, thankfully, a solution.
In this story--the quick actions of ECUA staff and board member Vicki Campbell are to be commended. ECUA immediately went out to the property, checked the situation, and determined a leak was the culprit. No word back yet on what caused it or whether or not it has been repaired by the property owner (hopefully it has been!--but it must've been leaking a while to run up that kind of a billing--how did the property owner not notice this?).
Thankfully--there is now a happy ending to this story coming.....
Because ECUA offers its customers a one time credit for such catostrophic occurrences. (I know this firsthand because I had a similar situation occur and was able to wipe away the charges with this one-time facility provided by ECUA.)
Thankfully (and mercifully)--this is a bill that this homeowner won't have to pay.
Whew--that's a relief!
