Tinley Park's Smart Water Meters Overcharge Residents: Tribune

Many of Tinley Park’s “smart” water meters don’t accurately record how much water a household uses, leading to significant overcharges in the hundreds of dollars, according to a Chicago Tribune investigative report, and the problem has been recurring for years.

The Tribune undertook an extensive review of village records related to the water meters, purchased by the village at a cost of $1.8 million. Among the report’s findings:

• at least 355 meters were issuing faulty readings, more more than twice the number the village told residents about
• residents say they have a difficult time getting the village to acknowledge the overcharges, as long as 16 months in one case
• when the village discovers faulty meters, it hasn’t issued accurate refunds
• village records lack details on meter failures, which could number in the thousands

“The meters don’t overcharge. They misrecord what’s going through,” Public Works Director Dale Schepers told the paper. “(We) don’t just take the numbers and send out bills and then, you know, actually overcharge people.”

And yet $90,000 has been refunded to customers outright or credited through adjusted bills.

National experts say this just shouldn’t happen.

After the investigative report published on Thursday, the village issued this statement:

The Village of Tinley Park is aware of the questions raised about its water meters and billing procedures, and staff is in the process of seeking input from the Village Board on the possibility of utilizing one or more independent, external experts to review its water meters and billing procedures.

“Our goal is to reinforce the confidence Tinley Park citizens have in their government, and an independent study has the potential to do that,” Acting Mayor David G. Seaman said. “We want to make sure the study reviews our water meter and billing system from top to bottom, and we want them to make recommendations on best practices where appropriate.”

The proposed plan would seek independent experts to conduct a review of the existing meter management program and its basic elements, which include cost, performance, reliability and replacement. The Village also would conduct an internal review to address internal management and accuracy of communications. ...

Residents who have questions regarding their water meters and billing can visit www.tinleypark.org/water for a list of frequently asked questions and information on how to correctly read a water bill. Those who have additional questions can call the Village at 708-444-5500.

• learn more via the Chicago Tribune’s exclusive report by Gregory Pratt, Lauren Zumbach and Joe Mahr

• review the village documents examined by the reporters