Utilities Gouging?

My electric and water bills have increased rather dramatically over the past few months. In particular, my DWSD bill went up around 50%. Electric is pretty bad as well. I've spent less and less time at home as a result of military obligation and I also don't own a television or water my lawn or any silly business like that so it would be impossible for my actual usage to increase. I think the local evil monopolies/trusts [[DWSD and DTE) are scamming me and I would like to destroy them. Any input in your experiences or how to go about seeking retribution from them or otherwise dealing them punishment is appreciated.

Yes, very badly, they turned one of the very best fresh water supply's on planet earth right here in north America and well.... Instead of making it a fantastic regional asset they started gouging the shit out of you. They wanted it all, high paid union jobs with bullshit classifications and of course a special interest consideration to NOT TAX THE INCOME FROM THEIR PESIONS because it's only bad when corporations do it, not when everyone else does.

I assume you've checked your usage numbers. DTE has a usage graph available that will chart KWH month by month. The cost per KWH has not really changed.

If you're away a lot and your neighbors lawn is green and yours is dead, this could be a clue to high water usage.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gpwrangler

I assume you've checked your usage numbers. DTE has a usage graph available that will chart KWH month by month. The cost per KWH has not really changed.

If you're away a lot and your neighbors lawn is green and yours is dead, this could be a clue to high water usage.

---

Even worse, you could have a leak in the water line between the meter and your house [[very expensive). As noted, check your usage rates.

It's usually gradual but an aging refrigerator will eventually spike up your electric bill. I noted a difference when I replaced my older fridge a few years ago.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by poobert

My electric and water bills have increased rather dramatically over the past few months. In particular, my DWSD bill went up around 50%. Electric is pretty bad as well. I've spent less and less time at home as a result of military obligation and I also don't own a television or water my lawn or any silly business like that so it would be impossible for my actual usage to increase. I think the local evil monopolies/trusts [[DWSD and DTE) are scamming me and I would like to destroy them.

---

Let's suspend the evil conspiracy talk until you rule out usage issues. I know that rates have not gone up by 50% in the last few months, so the key is finding out where the usage numbers are coming from. We can always go back to taking out the ISIS/DTE/Al-Qaeda/DWSD syndicate afterwards.

Have you compared the usage numbers billed from month-to-month? What do they read? DTE now has an app for your smartphone where you can monitor energy usage in real-time. If you download it you will be able to see when the spikes in usage are coming from.

From there you can better deduce the culprit.

Not to change the subject, but speaking of DTE, I got a very high pressure call yesterday from a group wanting me to give them my DTE account number. She talked very fast and would not directly answer my questions. They were trying to switch me to another supplier. They gave the impression they were representing DTE. When I told them to leave a phone number and I would call them back, she told me to forget it and hung up. Called DTE and had a lock put on my account. Be aware

According a recent study , Detroit water/sewer are not that bad, compared to other places

Attachment 24490

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by poobert

My electric and water bills have increased rather dramatically over the past few months. In particular, my DWSD bill went up around 50%. Electric is pretty bad as well. I've spent less and less time at home as a result of military obligation and I also don't own a television or water my lawn or any silly business like that so it would be impossible for my actual usage to increase. I think the local evil monopolies/trusts [[DWSD and DTE) are scamming me and I would like to destroy them. Any input in your experiences or how to go about seeking retribution from them or otherwise dealing them punishment is appreciated.

---

Chances are it impacts you more because you do conserve. As crazy as it sounds there is a base cost for the service then there is a charge for the amount you use it. Here are some suggestions to help reduce your bill:

Switch all of your lights to LED
Turn off your outdoor spigots, I am serious. I had deadbeat neighbors that would wait till I was away and use my water to do their dishes, flush the toilets, what have you. Turned off the spigot from the inside and no more deadbeat neighbors.
Bathe Weekly
Flush your toilet once a week whether you need to or not.

Yeah a couple of those were just jokes. I too have noticed this. I have a Cabin in N Michigan. There are some months I don't get to it, but my bills for that month are about the same as the bills for other months. My suggestion to you is learn to live with it. The cost of providing service is going up, and as crazy as it sounds the more people conserve, the more they need to keep the infrastructure in place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Willi

According a recent study , Detroit water/sewer are not that bad, compared to other places

Attachment 24490

---

$70 a YEAR???? Hmmmm......

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gpwrangler

I assume you've checked your usage numbers. DTE has a usage graph available that will chart KWH month by month. The cost per KWH has not really changed.

If you're away a lot and your neighbors lawn is green and yours is dead, this could be a clue to high water usage.

---

If you have a smart meter you can get a phone app and see your usage hour-by-hour. I installed the DTE Energy Insight app and have had a lot of fun analyzing my energy usage.

[QUOTE=corktownyuppie;452827]Let's suspend the evil conspiracy talk until you rule out usage issues. I know that rates have not gone up by 50% in the last few months, so the key is finding out where the usage numbers are coming from. We can always go back to taking out the ISIS/DTE/Al-Qaeda/DWSD syndicate afterwards.

Have you compared the usage numbers billed from month-to-month? What do they read? DTE now has an app for your smartphone where you can monitor energy usage in real-time. If you download it you will be able to se

My water bill 5 years ago was in the $28 range, now it is $39.84. THAT is the minimum. I blame the corruption within the department AND the huge number of people who simply do not pay their water bill.

Warren will probably be the last place in Michigan to have Smart Meters due to absolute idiots
who don't know crap about science and physics, yet bathe in electromagnetic radiation daily.

What year is that chart from? My monthly water bill is $39.84.....that's over $450 per year. My monthly bill is the rock, bottom minimum.

It says right on the chart AND its specific to DETROIT
If you live outside the city, your city, township, municipality "may" add on fees

http://bv.com/docs/management-consul...er-rate-survey

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Willi

It says right on the chart AND its specific to DETROIT
If you live outside the city, your city, township, municipality "may" add on fees

http://bv.com/docs/management-consul...er-rate-survey

---

This is the secret that doesn't get discussed much. The 'burbs add a lot to water bills. You can decide for yourself whether water charges is the right way to finance your city, and vote accordingly. You might prefer a higher property tax, or local sales tax, or as you democratically choose

On electricity, its the other way around -- at least for businesses. Detroit businesses pay a 5% Detroit utility surcharge on their bills, last I knew. Part of the DEGC's plan to encourage development in Detroit, I'm sure. But seriously folks, I've forgotten what they money goes to. Anyone know?

Detroit water commissioners voted to increase water and sewer rates
an average of 10 percent in February. The increases take effect July 1.

A half-dozen communities are raising rates more than 20 percent for water and sewage.
- Trenton is charging its residents 35 percent more for water.
- Taylor's homeowners will pay 30 percent more for sewers.
- Tiny Keego Harbor in Oakland County is raising its rates by 29 percent.
- Eastpointe: combined sewer and water rates up 30 percent.
- New Baltimore: water rates up 24 percent.
- Grosse Ile Township: combined water and sewer rates up 17 percent.

- Other cities had smaller-than-average increases,
and they are tacking on surcharges to water bills to make up the difference.
- In Plymouth, city officials voted to raise water rates only 5.5 percent,
but the city is charging an additional 4.5 percent service fee for processing water bills.

- Dearborn water rates are going up by nearly 10 percent, in part,
to help pay for a massive sewer project being ordered by the federal government.

Post #10 Water Chart is meant to be MONTHLY.
I emailed Black and Veatch this afternoon and got an immediate response.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Willi

Post #10 Water Chart is meant to be MONTHLY.
I emailed Black and Veatch this afternoon and got an immediate response.

---

I still don't think it's right. $200/mo in Atlanta?

It's too high for monthly and too low for annual. It might be reasonable for quarterly.

Out here in the sticks, I pay about $18/mo for water only [[base rate including the first 1,000 gallons), no sewerage as we're all on septic systems.


-----------------

I think the kicker is that it's based on 7,500 gallons/mo. Do any of you use that? It seems high. I rarely break 2,000, but if I were to hit the 7,500 mark in the chart, my bill could be around $80 based on published rates.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by poobert

My electric and water bills have increased rather dramatically over the past few months. In particular, my DWSD bill went up around 50%. Electric is pretty bad as well. I've spent less and less time at home as a result of military obligation and I also don't own a television or water my lawn or any silly business like that so it would be impossible for my actual usage to increase. I think the local evil monopolies/trusts [[DWSD and DTE) are scamming me and I would like to destroy them. Any input in your experiences or how to go about seeking retribution from them or otherwise dealing them punishment is appreciated.

---

Interesting you brought that up. My saga: we have the satellite read. Got our bill which says actual and our usage went up 87%! Curious sense we lost power in the billing cycle for 5 1/2 days. We called, they asked us to read the meter and said "oops, it wasn't an actual read so pay this amount which was and has been, still insane.

Our plan of action is to go to pay adjusted bill in person, I want an audit of the past 6 month and a real check on our meter and a full energy audit at their expense.

The budget plan is also a major rip off. Pay the monthly amount and at least you can catch errors earlier.

Gas bill is in line but water bills also insane. I have been calling with no luck for months. Things like you are 54th in queue and an hour later you are on hold and still 54th.

That was a 'scam-troll' call! I get them regarding fake employment 'opportunities' or trying to talk me into signing up for some utility scam. You can all but curse them out and they robotically keep talking, reading their tired script! Ending the call is the only thing that ends it. These so-called utility resellers are the worst. In the end you'll pay more and if you are late in payment: lights out. I'm not crazy for DTE but know better than get involved in a MLM scam promising to save me any money!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lpg

Not to change the subject, but speaking of DTE, I got a very high pressure call yesterday from a group wanting me to give them my DTE account number. She talked very fast and would not directly answer my questions. They were trying to switch me to another supplier. They gave the impression they were representing DTE. When I told them to leave a phone number and I would call them back, she told me to forget it and hung up. Called DTE and had a lock put on my account. Be aware

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by lpg

Not to change the subject, but speaking of DTE, I got a very high pressure call yesterday from a group wanting me to give them my DTE account number. She talked very fast and would not directly answer my questions. They were trying to switch me to another supplier. They gave the impression they were representing DTE. When I told them to leave a phone number and I would call them back, she told me to forget it and hung up. Called DTE and had a lock put on my account. Be aware

---

Sounds like some variation of slamming.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zacha341

That was a 'scam-troll' call! I get them regarding fake employment 'opportunities' or trying to talk me into signing up for some utility scam. You can all but curse them out and they robotically keep talking, reading their tired script! Ending the call is the only thing that ends it. These so-called utility resellers are the worst. In the end you'll pay more and if you are late in payment: lights out. I'm not crazy for DTE but know better than get involved in a MLM scam promising to save me any money!

---

Not always. Unbeknownst to me, I had a distant relative in Nairobi die and leave me $1.8 mil. All I had to do was pay the Estate Executor of the Peoples Bank of Nairobi a $1700 transfer fee, and the money was mine. I gave them my bank account #, so as soon as the money gets transferred, I'm out of here.....

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thoro

My water bill 5 years ago was in the $28 range, now it is $39.84. THAT is the minimum. I blame the corruption within the department AND the huge number of people who simply do not pay their water bill.

---

I dont understand people's outrage over their water bills. $40. That's something to bitch about? And blame on "corruption and the huge number of people who don't pay"? Really? How much is your cell phone bill? How about the monthly cable / internet charge? How much does it cost to fill the car with gas? Heaven forbid you drive a truck.

We need water. And I very much appreciate receiving clean water [[especially considering the condition DSWD gets it back in). $40. I'll pay it. Gladly.

For DWSD there was an eight percent rate increase approved by the Detroit City
Council recently - the specified purpose of this rate increase was for capital
improvements. This increase was approved prior to the GLWA announcement.

I went to a community meeting at a neighborhood church sometime last March.
A church parishioner alerted me to the fact that there was a sewer in front of the
church that was totally blocked. This caused an ice rink in front of the church -
not good for weddings or funerals. Could I do anything about it? Well, I would try.
Apparently someone from the church had contacted DWSD earlier and nothing
happened. I called the repair number. There will be a repair order number for
any pending repair job. DWSD had none on file for this church, so I requested a repair
for the sewer. The sewer was located on a cross street, not the church's address
street, so I thought it was very possible that repair persons had come out and checked
the church's address street and found all of the sewers there to be okay, so I
specifically mentioned that the sewer needing attention was on the cross street.

Holy Week came and went with no repair. A month passed with no repair. I called,
and the work order number was still in the system. Sometime during the next month
there was a water main break in the neighborhood that was fixed within three days.
I believe that there were two contractor firms as well as DWSD staff working on the
water and sewerage systems at that time - it was a severe winter for them.
By the end of the second month the church sewer was fixed. That was your DWSD
money at work.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dumpling

I went to a community meeting at a neighborhood church sometime last March.
A church parishioner alerted me to the fact that there was a sewer in front of the
church that was totally blocked. This caused an ice rink in front of the church -
not good for weddings or funerals. Could I do anything about it? Well, I would try.
Apparently someone from the church had contacted DWSD earlier and nothing
happened. I called the repair number. There will be a repair order number for
any pending repair job. DWSD had none on file for this church, so I requested a repair
for the sewer. The sewer was located on a cross street, not the church's address
street, so I thought it was very possible that repair persons had come out and checked
the church's address street and found all of the sewers there to be okay, so I
specifically mentioned that the sewer needing attention was on the cross street.

---

DWSD does not control the catch basins. Those are storm drains and are DPW jurisdiction.

I'm not convinced of that. The repair number that I called was the one on my
DWSD bill. It certainly may be that DPW does some catch basin cleanout, but
it is also true that DWSD has a fleet of Vac-Alls [[these are the big trucks with
the elephant like tubes on the front) for cleaning out sewers as well. To be sure,
I did not see who came out and took care of the church sewer. I couldn't tell
you if it was DPW, DWSD, or a contractor.

Apparently the City of Warren has 2 unique crews for the neighborhoods.
a.) One strictly for Storm Water Drain Pipes and Grates cleaning work
[[Vactor Truck plus Department Public Works in White Truck)
b.) One strictly for doing the manhole sanitary sewer drain piping maintenance
[[Vactor Truck plus City of Warren in Blue Truck)
The guys in the WHITE truck knew absolutely nothing about what the guys
in the BLUE truck had done at that exact same spot. No communication between the 2 teams.

http://redrundrain.files.wordpress.c...s-one-lane.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

I dont understand people's outrage over their water bills. $40. That's something to bitch about? And blame on "corruption and the huge number of people who don't pay"? Really? How much is your cell phone bill? How about the monthly cable / internet charge? How much does it cost to fill the car with gas? Heaven forbid you drive a truck.

We need water. And I very much appreciate receiving clean water [[especially considering the condition DSWD gets it back in). $40. I'll pay it. Gladly.

---

I'm glad you have $40 to piss about, but I don't; I wasn't born with a silver spoon. Some of us are watching every dime. Don't drive a truck and don't have a TV, either.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

I dont understand people's outrage over their water bills. $40. That's something to bitch about? And blame on "corruption and the huge number of people who don't pay"? Really? How much is your cell phone bill? How about the monthly cable / internet charge? How much does it cost to fill the car with gas? Heaven forbid you drive a truck.

We need water. And I very much appreciate receiving clean water [[especially considering the condition DSWD gets it back in). $40. I'll pay it. Gladly.

---

No problem with $40.00 per month. Seems quite reasonble.

But if you remove the waste, maybe the bill would have been $30.00 a month. That would save Detroit residents $120 a year. Do you think this money is better spent on waste and unnecessary staff, or would be better in the pockets of Detroit residents?

Oh really, eh I'm not greedy I just want half before you get into the wind -- I think I deserve a bit of something, sompin'...:p...!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Honky Tonk

Not always. Unbeknownst to me, I had a distant relative in Nairobi die and leave me $1.8 mil. All I had to do was pay the Estate Executor of the Peoples Bank of Nairobi a $1700 transfer fee, and the money was mine. I gave them my bank account #, so as soon as the money gets transferred, I'm out of here.....

---

A DWSD vactor truck came and vacuumed up the car keys that I accidentally dropped into the catch basin in front of my house. A neighbor told me to try DWSD and my expensive keys were saved - but it took about a week. It's not like they just can give them to you. The truck tanks have to be emptied somewhere. It was excellent customer service. Certainly exceeded my expectation.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by poobert

My electric and water bills have increased rather dramatically over the past few months. In particular, my DWSD bill went up around 50%. Electric is pretty bad as well. I've spent less and less time at home as a result of military obligation and I also don't own a television or water my lawn or any silly business like that so it would be impossible for my actual usage to increase. I think the local evil monopolies/trusts [[DWSD and DTE) are scamming me and I would like to destroy them. Any input in your experiences or how to go about seeking retribution from them or otherwise dealing them punishment is appreciated.

---

Another angle to consider is the value of your dollar, due to inflation, is going down the drain so to speak.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kevgoblue

I dont understand people's outrage over their water bills. $40. That's something to bitch about? And blame on "corruption and the huge number of people who don't pay"? Really? How much is your cell phone bill? How about the monthly cable / internet charge? How much does it cost to fill the car with gas? Heaven forbid you drive a truck.

We need water. And I very much appreciate receiving clean water [[especially considering the condition DSWD gets it back in). $40. I'll pay it. Gladly.

---

$40? I wish mine was that low. Still a good value though.

Let's see if this will link to an informative video provided by the DWSD public
affairs office:

http://www.dwsd.org/pages_n/video_2.html

In a nutshell, metro Detroit suffered from population loss and unemployment over the
last ten years, so there are fewer DWSD accounts. Furthermore water sales are also down lately because we have had enough rain for the grass. Neither the payments on the bonds
nor the labor costs came down proportionately, so water rates went up and up some more.
In 2012 Director Sue McCormick, hired by Dave Bing [[for those that are wondering if he did anything as mayor) brought in EMA consulting, and a good many "Pilot Process Optimization Units" were set up by them throughout the DWSD organization. A major focus was reducing
staffing through attrition. Each unit tended to have enough volunteers to completely review and rework any given process, and in many cases improvements were made. [[No, I won't
press that literary work "Who Moved My Cheese" on you all about this).

[QUOTE=thoro;452914]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by corktownyuppie

Let's suspend the evil conspiracy talk until you rule out usage issues. I know that rates have not gone up by 50% in the last few months, so the key is finding out where the usage numbers are coming from. We can always go back to taking out the ISIS/DTE/Al-Qaeda/DWSD syndicate afterwards.

Have you compared the usage numbers billed from month-to-month? What do they read? DTE now has an app for your smartphone where you can monitor energy usage in real-time. If you download it you will be able to se

My water bill 5 years ago was in the $28 range, now it is $39.84. THAT is the minimum. I blame the corruption within the department AND the huge number of people who simply do not pay their water bill.

---

I am a vocal critic of the mismanagement and waste at DWSD. But there is a difference between your problem [[an increase of about 10% per year over 5 years) and the OP, who claims the bill went up by 50% in 3 months [[an increase of about 200% per year).

It ALL depending on your specific community and how it gets water

-- average resident in Flint pays $140 per month,
-- average resident Montrose water and sewer rates at $104.65 a month
-- """"""""""""""""" Linden at $100.93.
-- """"""""""""""""" Beecher is $52.88
-- """""""""""""""""" Burton at $57.46.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/inde.../post_386.html

The 12 communities in the 12TownsDrain District aka Kuhn Retention Basin
MUST pay the bond for the construction of underground Red Run stormwater basin.
The original facility was built in 1972, that jacked up their residents
sewer/water costs for years to come, as it was expanded in 2006.

I live in Warren , and pay around $25 to $30 a month; total combined sewer/water .
BUT Warren is unique as it has its own Water Treatment Plant, many cities do not have one.

Your clean drinking water may come far, far away .....................

https://redrundrain.files.wordpress....stribution.jpg