  | Utilities | The City of Lumberton is aware that many of its utility customers have recently received what appear to be excessive utility bills. We want to emphasize several facts about these bills. They are based upon actual readings of the customer’s meter and are based on actual usage. The reason they are high, almost without exception, is that an employee who is no longer with the City underestimated prior bills, in some cases for several months. It is important to note that when these bills were based on underestimated usage, the customer received a bill that was proportionately lower than their actual usage. In fact the high bill is high to exactly the same degree that prior bills were artificially low. To ease the burden of these bills, the City is offering payment plans to those effected. The City is also implementing safeguards and exploring Advanced Metering Infrastructure which would do away with the possibility of what has occurred in this case. Anyone with questions or who would like to explore a payment plan may call Public Services at 910-671-3800. The City does regret the inconvenience to all impacted. |