In an innovative step toward more reliable and transparent water billing, the City of Houston has rolled out the Water Bill Improvement Plan, spearheaded by Mayor John Whitmire. Starting this May, single-family residential customers in Houston will experience a new billing method called set usage billing, designed to provide more consistent charges while enhancements are made to the city's water metering and billing systems.

As part of the initiative, Houston Public Works has begun issuing water bills based on predetermined usage amounts. These set usage bills will continue until each household's metering equipment is either upgraded or confirmed to be delivering accurate data. This transitional approach aims to eliminate the unpredictability associated with water billing, which has been a concern among residents.

The methodology for determining set usage varies based on the longevity of customer accounts:

- **For established accounts (older than one year before March 1, 2023)**: The set usage rate is calculated based on average consumption over the past 36 months. This calculation smartly excludes periods known for atypical water usage, such as the drought from June to December 2023 and the winter storm in early 2021, alongside any months affected by estimated billing or potential leaks.

- **For newer accounts (created after March 1, 2023)**: The city assigns a set usage of 3,000 gallons per month, reflective of the average consumption for new water accounts in Houston.

This billing approach not only stabilizes monthly bills but also incorporates a fair adjustment system. If a household's functioning remote reading device records less water usage than the set amount, the bill will be adjusted downward to reflect the actual usage. Conversely, if consumption exceeds the set amount, customers will not be charged extra, ensuring that no resident pays more during the transition period.

Residents can verify the status of their remote reading devices through the Houston Public Works dashboard at [improvewaterbills.org](http://improvewaterbills.org), a dedicated resource for updates and management of water service issues. Additionally, for those needing further assistance or clarification regarding their water bills, Houston Public Works offers customer service both in-person and virtually. Appointments are available and can be scheduled via the same website, offering a blend of convenience and accessibility, with options for face-to-face or digital meetings via Microsoft Teams.

This proactive initiative underscores Houston's commitment to improving utility service transparency and operational efficiency, significantly enhancing resident satisfaction and trust in municipal services. As these improvements take root, Houstonians can look forward to more accurate and consistent water billing, tailored to meet the needs and expectations of today's citizens.

For more info, visit improvewaterbills.org.