Water rates double for Wake Forest residents after audit finds billing error

An audit found billing errors for some families in the Jones Dairy Farm and Willow Deer subdivisions in Wake Forest.

The homes were billed at a lower rate for years, but when Raleigh Public Utilities officials noticed the error, they moved those residents to the rate set for homes outside city limits, which is double the rate of residents within city limits.

Affected residents say the change is unfair and that rates should be flat because everybody’s bill supports the same utility.

Resident Angela Humphries said the problem impacts more than the neighborhoods involved with the billing area.

“It’s about 5,400 citizens connected to this Raleigh water and sewer utility who are forced to pay double rates, like almost every single item on their bill is a double item,” she said.

Some residents who hand delivered their bills to Raleigh City Council members Tuesday night reported paying nearly $200 per month.