NATCHEZ, Miss. – City officials are considering a proposal to evaluate the Natchez Water Works’ operations to ensure its accounting and meters are accurately billing water users and trash collection customers.
The audit could help the city discover cases of unbilled or misbilled usages and “find unrealized revenues so you won’t have to raise rates,” said former Hattiesburg mayor Johnny Dupree, who presented the proposition to Natchez Mayor Dan Gibson and aldermen Tuesday.
Dupree is working for Water Company of America, a Texas-based firm that helps cities identify customer billing errors and bypassed or malfunctioning meters that result in lost revenues.
The Board of Aldermen, after hearing Dupree’s proposition, voted to discuss this further with NWW’s governing board before deciding whether to get WCA to make an evaluation.
City residents also pay the Natchez Water Works for garbage pickup at a fixed-rate for all. WCA could also review that as well to ensure NWW’s billing system is covering all service users.
Water Company of American has helped such Mississippi cities as Jackson and Gulfport generate newfound revenues for their water systems, according to WCA regional manager Mike Necaise.
The company is paid for a limited time a percentage of whatever additional revenues the city derives from efficiencies it finds.
Dupree, currently a state senator, indicated he’s eager to meet with the city and NWW boards to further discuss whether they want to pursue this.
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