Salt River Project officials met with attorneys Tuesday in executive session to discuss concerns about a fee increase appearing on customers’ utility bills this month.
The issue is rooted in a $17 mandatory fee for basic service that appears on every SRP customer’s monthly bill. As part of its 3.9 percent rate hike approved in February, SRP raised that service fee by $3.
At the time, SRP General Manager Mark Bonsall told board members the bump would be “phased in,” starting with a $1.50 increase in May and then implement the full $3 increase in November.
But SRP customers such as Steve Neil were surprised to see the full $3 increase on their bills for April.
“One of the stranger things I’ve been involved in in quite a while, to sit there and hear executives talk about something and then see the exact opposite happening in reality by their own staff implementing it,” said Neil, who attended the rate-hike meetings.
SRP spokesman Scott Harelson said this was always the plan, and it was laid out to board members in February.
“We regret any confusion surrounding the measure, but we’re pleased that the discount approved on Feb. 26 will take effect May 9 for the next six months,” he said.
The phase-in — which Harelson referred to as a ‘discount’ during an interview with KJZZ — was intended for only SRP’s summer months, May through October. Because April is considered a winter month, the full $3 was charged, and will be cut in half starting next month.
“It is a phase-in, a discount to the $3 monthly service charge increase,” Harelson said.
The board of directors could bring the issue up Monday at its next public meeting, but it’s not currently on the agenda.
