Watch CBS News

Baltimore Public Works Promises Billing Changes

BALTIMORE (AP) -- In the wake of water meter complaints, Baltimore's Department of Public Works is promising an overhaul.

At a City Council hearing Tuesday, Public Works Director Alfred Foxx announced preliminary plans for revamping water meter reading and billing.

In the short term, the department plans to reorganize staff, retool customer service guidelines and reduce the time it takes to resolve billing errors and meter checks. The department also plans to replace commercial water meters with automated meters and reassign meter reading staff to residential accounts.

After an automated system is tested, it will be expanded to all water customers.

Foxx says the department will also redesign the water and sewer billing system to provide historical account information.

The department serves 1.8 million people throughout the Baltimore region

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.