Originally published Monday, July 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM
Comments (26)
E-mail article
Print view
Share
Utility bill rises steeply: $250 to $74,599
Unusually high bills often illicit a groan, a gasp or maybe a gag. But Leland Davis, accustomed to a roughly $250 utility bill for his auto-repair building in Richland, was nearly floored when he opened his mail Wednesday and saw the astronomical figure on his monthly bill: $74,599.06.
Tri-City Herald
RICHLAND — Unusually high bills often illicit a groan, a gasp or maybe a gag.
But Leland Davis, accustomed to a roughly $250 utility bill for his building in Richland, was nearly floored when he opened his mail Wednesday and saw the astronomical figure on his monthly bill: $74,599.06.
"Holy cow," were Davis' first words.
Instead of blowing a fuse, the longtime Richland automotive-repair business manager took the mishap in stride. He even tried to pay the bill at Richland's City Hall with his American Express card, handing it to a cashier.
"She started to do it, then she saw the bill," Davis said, laughing. " 'Oh, there's something wrong here.' It was a good laugh."
In all, 15 people received similar bills, said Richland Accounting Operations Supervisor Melody Kendall.
"It was a very small number of accounts that we impacted," she said.
Kendall attributed the big bills to two glitches, one in the handheld devices used to check meters and the other in the city's new computer billing program.
She said the handheld devices misread the affected customers' meters, resulting in giant figures being fed into the billing system. Those larger-than-normal numbers then somehow went through the billing program undetected.
"We do not know why these did not show up," she said.
Still, Kendall doesn't expect the glitches to recur.
She said the handheld devices have been fixed and additional "queries" have been entered into the computer billing system, which should act as another layer of digital mesh, screening out abnormal figures.
![]()
"We're putting checks and balances in place to make sure this doesn't happen," she said.
Standing in front of his building Thursday morning, Davis couldn't stop laughing at his bloated bill. He said he's kept a copy and has jokingly begun hitting up friends for extra cash to help him make payments.
Davis has co-owned the now-vacant vehicle-repair shop since 1977. His recent bill, he guessed, was close to equaling the total amount of utilities paid by businesses that have rented his building over the past decade.
He said employees with the city of Richland were understanding and easy to work with when he brought the billing glitch to their attention.
Still, his message to the city, delivered with a chuckle, was: "Just don't send me another one."
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
Danny Westneat: Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
Parents want answers on new Seattle school boundaries
3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
How to tell your office you're gravely ill
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Briefs | Soccer: New Mexico suspends hair-pulling player Elizabeth Lambert
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
- Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
- 3 Cascade Mountain passes close due to snow; more rain, wind expected Sunday
- McGinn pulling away as late ballots come in
- Using anti-shooter tactics, civilian Army police officer brought down gunman
- Heavy snow in Cascades shuts down roads
- UCLA game thread
940 - Weapons, bomb-making materials found in suspect's apartment
336 - U.S. House passes health plan
322 - Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
229 - Decision day for health care in the House
207 - Grading the game
150 - Referendum 71 show's Washington's strategy for marriage equality is working
134 - Huskies suffer another heartbreaking loss to UCLA
108 - Sounders FC-Dynamo playoff Game 2 thread
75 - How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall
72
- Suspect shot as city mourns slain officer
- Flags were key link to cop slaying, bombings
- The birth of 'Grunge,' in photos by Michael Lavine
- 10 investing missteps to avoid
- How do innovators think?
- 10 ways to take control of your health
- Bombs, guns found at home of suspect in Officer Brenton's slaying
- Danny Westneat | Lee the Horse Logger found slow wagon shrank tumor
- Tlingit heritage helps glass artist Preston Singletary break new ground
- How an underdog named Mike McGinn took City Hall






