News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: November
. 6, 2020

KENT COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY

Contact: David L. Simmons, PE Executive Director /Chief Engineer 1072 Main Street
Phone: 401-821-9300 West Warwick, Rhode Island 02893
Kent County Water Authority has received numerous complaints regarding the most recent October
quarterly billing that was distributed to the customers. Unfortunately, there has been a tremendous
amount of misinformation being shared on social media causing additional confusion. Most
complaints are regarding what was considered abnormal consumption levels and high bill amounts.
Our call center cannot keep up with the volume of calls being received. In an effort to address all
claims of doubling and tripling of bills, KCWA is requesting that customers please email the specific
claim to customerservice@kentcountywater.org so our customer service staff can respond each one
individually. Please include your name, account number, and description of the specific request.
Include a picture of the meter register if possible as it would be very helpful. We will work with each
and every customer to ensure the information is accurate and thoroughly investigated.
The most recent October quarterly billing to our customers includes usage from the prior three
months. This billing includes summer usage. The summer usage this year has increased by 30%.
The data show a shift from the industrial commercial base to our residential customers. There are
several reasons that may have contributed to increased usage including but not limited to:
• Increased consumption from outside water use on irrigations systems and recreational
activities during the extremely hot and dry summer.
• Leaks downstream of the meter. Most leakage problems that go undetected result from
leaking toilets. https://kentcountywater.org/learning-center-conservation.aspx
• Increased use from people being home due to Covid-19.
• KCWA is completing a meter change out program replacing meters exceeding 20 years in
age as ordered by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Public Utility
Commission. Old meters may under register use due to the wearing of their mechanical
parts over time. New meters are registering water use with increased accuracy.
• Meters are being changed out during mid-billing cycles, so bills received will have usage
from the old meter and usage from the new meter. Using October billing as an example, if
the meter was changed out in August, then the bill will have usage from the old meter from
a final read obtained at the time of change out and also use from the new meter up until the
quarterly read. The old read is added to the bill as a consumption adjustment.
• The new meters and installation are being provided from PUC funding made available
through a previous rate filing Docket 4611. Customers are not being charged for the meter
in the bill.
The Kent County Water Authority is dedicated to ensuring that meter reading information is
accurate. KCWA will work diligently to make sure every relevant claim is thoroughly investigated.
We would like to thank all customers for their patience and understanding. Please note that Kent
County Water Authority has also reduced its rates effective September 1, 2020 as ordered by the
Public Utilities Commission in its most recent rate filing Docket 5012 (click here for press release).