The City of Wichita will be changing to a different system for reading water meters, and that could mean a one-time change for residents and water customers in March.
Penny Feist with the city’s Public Works and Utilities Department said the city will be reducing the routes for meter reading from 361 to 233. She said that will reduce labor hours and reduce vehicle miles to save gasoline and help the environment. The change will also mean less time between when the water is used and when it is billed, and Feist said that will help customers keep a closer eye on their water usage.
Feist said as a customer moves from one route to another, there will be a one-time change for the March bill. Typical billing cycles run 28 to 32 days, but the March bill could reflect more than 32 days. She said a typical residential household would pay an extra five to ten dollars in March if there are five additional days in the March cycle. After that, the billing should return to a regular cycle.
Feist said customers might also receive their bill on a different day in March, which would change the date that the bill is due. After that, the billing cycle will return to normal and the new due date will carry forward.
A postcard will be sent out next week to water customers who will see the most impact from the change. More information is available at the city’s web site at www.wichita.gov/waterrates
