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P.A. senior citizen plans to fight her $6K utility bill

Jul 22, 2016 | 6:00 AM

Nellie Souter is looking forward to Monday’s Executive Committee and she is bringing back up.

The 70-year-old plans to fight the $6,500 water/sewage utility bill she was issued in June. 

Since the story was first reported on by paNOW June 30, Souter has been contacted by other upset city residents and they plan to join her at Monday’s meeting.

“One guy I talked to had a $600 water bill, another one $800,” Souter said.

Souter who has lived in Prince Albert since 1964 maintains the bill she was issued is outrageous. 

“I’m not home all day. I visit my husband in a home, maybe two or three loads of washing (a) week is all I do.  Never in my life have I had a water bill like that in any place that I have lived in P.A.,” she said.

The bill covers a three-month period and at issue was a leak Souter had in her basement. 

Souter alleged the leak, traced to a sink, was no bigger than the size of a pin hole.

“There was no more than three quarters to an inch of water in my basement and there was no change in my water pressure at all,” Souter said.

City staff maintain its reading was accurate and the water meter was working properly.

“It would have taken me 10 years and six months to use that amount of water,” Souter said.

City Manager Jim Toye said the actual flooding in Souter’s basement is much worse than she is describing, adding crews did several inspections.

“There was water on the floor, there were cardboard boxes that had water up on them,” he said.

Toye said executive committee will hear Souter’s case and will likely request a report from administration.

Toye was asked what payment options Souter would be facing if city council supports the bill in its current form.

“I would not say that would not be a month or two months but a longer period.  We understand this is onerous and it is a lot of money,” he said.

The executive committee meeting on July 25 starts at 2 p.m.

Souter told paNOW she was prepared to bring every water bill she ever received in the past ten years, to help compare what amounts she has paid in the past.

 

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell