Evergreen Metro District is changing its billing cycle for some, if not all, of its customers to get all on the same cycle. But, the way they are doing it is dishonest, even though their lawyers purportedly say that it is OK.
As an EMD customer with as many as six accounts over the past 25 years, I’ve never had a problem with them. But, in early 2023, I noticed that my bill was due earlier in the month, so I called. They are shortening my billing cycle from the 16th to the first each month, in small increments every month, which, they say, is allowed by their rules, and they say their lawyers agree. An objective read of Rule 8.1.5.A would render this practice invalid.
The net effect in 2023 is that I will be billed for basic water and sewer services for 15 days more than I will receive those services (currently $86.00/month) for a net overbilling of $43. The billing date will never return to the 16th and they offer no credit, so that amounts to a THEFT of $43 on my current account. Their theft from your account may differ depending upon how much they change your billing cycle this year.
Six weeks ago, I wrote a long, detailed letter to the Courier with full reconciliation of this method, documenting phone calls to EMD, but it was too long for a letter. So I asked that it be printed as a Guest Commentary — so far, no luck there.
So, I urge every EMD customer to review their billing, starting in late 2022, to determine if this billing scheme affects you. If it does, call EMD at 303-674-4112 (don’t select option #5 for Customer Service, that just disconnects immediately) and inquire as to how they can systematically get away with this theft from their customers. And then watch them like a hawk.
Greg Scott, Evergreen
