Details about this story

• Source: San Diego Union-Tribune
• Date: April 08, 2007
• URL: Read the story
• Bylines: Danielle Cervantes , Matthew T. Hall
• Topics: Local Government , Utilities
• Data Types: Local Data
• Description/Excerpt: An analysis by The San Diego Union-Tribune shows the Water Department has collectively overcharged customers $1.67 million in the 40 months for which data are available. The bulk of the city's 219,000 residential water accounts have been billed incorrectly since San Diego switched from bimonthly to monthly billing in September 2003 after a vote of the City Council. Accounts are now reconciled every six months, which essentially gives the Water Department interest-free loans of hundreds of thousands of dollars to help with cash flow at a time when the city's credit is shot.