City responds to high utility bills

By on Thursday, February 16th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

RICHLAND, Washington – The city of Richland is addressing residents’ concerns regarding high utility bills as the city transitions to a new advanced metering infrastructure system. The replacement of water and electric meters with automated usage readings is complex and has not been without challenges, according to a statement released by the city.

An internal project team has been established to address concerns immediately. The city has also paused new meter installation efforts for approximately two weeks to identify solutions to mitigate these issues. The city said it has identified challenges and solutions it believes are isolated and only impact a small percentage of customers.

Those who feel like they have been impacted can contact customer service at customerservice@ci.richland.wa.us or call 509-942-1104. Due to high call volumes or emails requests, customers may experience wait times. The city of Richland has established a frequently asked questions document regarding this issue which can be found at www.ci.richland.wa.us.