Hundreds of citizens in Norfolk,VA, went to their mailboxes (or inboxes) during the months of September and October 2023 and opened bills with massively inflated charges. 

First, a rate hike had been instituted, of which many citizens were unaware.

Second, and more concerning, meter readings are arguably being fraudulently entered or even "guesstimated". My personal meter was covered with several inches of dirt, leaves, grass, debris, and spiderwebs, yet my bill claimed the meter was read seven short days before I checked the meter myself. I had to scoop out dirt and debris onto my lawn to even open the meter cap and look at it. We had done no extensive landscaping in that time to dump debris into that hole.

Online posts on Nextdoor and Facebook are yielding comments into the hundreds of other Norfolk citizens who received similar massively inflated utility bills.

Calls, emails, and visits to city officials seem to yield no answer or a variety of excuses including staffing shortages resulting in meters being read 6, 7, or even more weeks apart, making for an irregular (and unprofessional) billing experience in a time where Norfolk households are budgeting more closely than ever.

Norfolk citizens are demanding the following:

1) an investigation into billing processes and procedures which are resulting in outrageously inflated bills followed by demand for payment under threat of disconnection. This includes homes with infants, the elderly, and individuals living off Social Security and pensions.

2) regular meter readings that are timely, accurate, and cross-checked for veracity.

3) transparency from HRSD and the City of Norfolk in regards to rate hikes, billing practices, and how much we, the citizens, are footing the bill for floodwaters that we did not cause.

Norfolk citizens cannot afford $500-$900 water utility bills. Coupled with the confusion around the charges for wastewater treatment (if x% of our water is going into the ground via lawn watering, car washing, etc., how are we being charged for the exact same amount of water coming out of our pipes? The water going into the ground is not being treated by HRSD. Why are we being charged for it (and wastewater treatment got the biggest hike of 67c per unit)?), citizens are justifiably concerned, angry, and distrustful of both the City and the utility company providing one of our most precious life-giving resources: water.

This petition will be forwarded to the entire City Council of Norfolk, as well as the Mayor's office and those in leadership at HRSD.