PWD Going to the Well One Too Many Times

I hate the Philadelphia Water Department.  Most people in Philly hate the PPA but the water department is more vicious and far more subtle.  What I’m going to show you is considered rape in most parts of the nation but somehow the city gets away with it.  Here are 5 bills from ’10, ’11, ’12, ’13, and ’14 and how they have dramatically increased due to the city’s need for money.

2010 – 2 out of our 6 building were being charge a storm water charge for $4.14. Only 1 building is actually charged for the use of the water which is on a separate bill.  For whatever reason the city decided in this year that they weren’t making enough money from the water department.

2011 – The price of the storm water charge has doubled. They are still only billing 2 of the 6 buildings.  We have 6 buildings that all use the same storm water drain.  It’s uncertain if this was a mistake by the water department or if times were a changing.

2012 – Storm water charge has gone up another $4 dollars a month to more than  $12.  All 6 buildings are now being charged.  That’s 4 more buildings being charged the storm water charge.   The balance is high because during the transition from billing 2 buildings instead of 6, they were sending no bills. Due to their negligence this allowed them to charge a PENALTY for late payment.  This is the start of the city cashing in on an outrageous storm water charge.

2013 – Same circumstance as the previous year. Thanks for one year of consistency.  I assume they knew citizens were getting tired of a monthly increase.  The city decided to play nice for a year before it started laying down the hammer.

2014 – Price of the storm water charge is now another $5 dollars higher. They now send 6 bills every month but I would too if my cost was $.48 and I was able to charge $18 dollars for the same thing.  Enough is enough.

 

Conclusion

It never ends with these guys. The cost of using the storm water drain has increased 400% in the last 5 years.  We now pay over 1,000 dollars a year to use the city’s storm water drain.  This doesn’t even include the USE of the water.  Give me other services where citizens put up with this nonsense. Why is this not a monopoly? There are no other choices. This is outrageous and somebody needs to stand up to this unreasonable means of billing customers. Pass this on if you feel the same way and that it’s time to stand up to the city.