Portland Water Bureau Billing Snafu Could Get Worse

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Water Bureau Billing Snafu Could Get Worse Agency May Face Cuts Posted: 3:49 p.m. PDT October 1, 2001

PORTLAND -- The Portland Water Bureau raised rates nearly 7 percent since July and much of it is due to continuing problems with the bureau's computer billing system.

KOIN 6 News reports that if the bureau can't solve those problems, there could be some serious cost-cutting, including layoffs, or even higher rates.

Consultants arrived at the bureau Monday to try and begin repairing the computer system that has wasted millions of dollars.

The problems started in February, 2000, when the bureau installed new billing software, designed by Severn-Trent of the United Kingdom. The software turned out to be faulty.

Nearly two years later, more than 8,000 customers still aren't getting their bills, meaning $12 million that the bureau can't collect. The bureau so far has spent $8 million trying to fix the $3 million computer system.

As a last resort, the bureau could lay off some of its 500 employees or raise water rates even more.

http://www.koin.com/c6k/news/stories/news-99924820011001-171034.html

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), October 02, 2001


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