DUBLIN, Va. (WFXR) — Residents in a Pulaski County town — including one over the age of 80 — are expressing concerns about their increased utility bill rates.
WFXR News’ Kelsey Jean-Baptiste went to Oak Grove Apartments in Dublin and sat down with Ms. Whitaker, an 81-year-old whose bill went up nearly $25 in just one month.
“It went up from $60 to $84.96,” said Whitaker.
This news comes after the Town of Dublin posted the following notice for utility customers on its website on Tuesday, Aug. 9:
Regarding the rate increase on August 2022 utility bills, the rates were set too high; town council will be lowering the water/sewer rates, once approved, an adjustment to each account will be applied to a future bill.
However, for Whitaker, a promise for a future adjustment isn’t enough.
“I almost fainted,” Whitaker said with a laugh, remembering her reaction when her August utility bill arrived. “I mean, I couldn’t believe it.”
Whitaker tells WFXR News she went to the Town of Dublin to see what could be done about the increase, but was not happy with the response she received.
“She said, ‘it’s just an increase,’ and I said, ‘gosh,’ I said, ‘I just can’t do this,’ and I don’t know what I was going to do,” said Ms. Whitaker.
Whitaker, who lives on a fixed income, says that was money she needed to get by.
“I don’t use that much water. I live here by myself. I wash once a month,” Whitaker said. “I don’t cook that much or anything because I live right here by myself, and nobody lives with me, and I just have to do the best that I can, but after this went up like that, it really bothered me.”
As soon as the town council approves the new rates, Dublin officials say they will make every effort to get the new rates to customers via mail, social media, and the town’s website.
WFXR News reached out to the Dublin town manager about the situation, but never received a response.
