Water Bill Adjustment Programs

At a glance

• What: Council advanced several measures on water and sewer billing in six weeks: ordinance 26-O-1545 on recorded usage spike credits and errors, ordinance 26-O-1564 on account adjustments under the Flexible Levels, Options, & Affordable Terms (FLOAT) initiative, and resolutions refunding overpayments.
• Where it stands: 26-O-1545 and 26-O-1564 were each adopted 15 to 0 on October 19, 2026 (on substitute and as amended, respectively). Refund resolution 26-R-3995 for $62,147.04 was adopted on substitute the same day.
• Next: Winston's resolution 26-R-4124 (adjust water and sewer service charges, amount blank) is still held in Finance/Executive; a new refund resolution (26-R-4279, amount blank) was introduced October 19 and referred to Finance/Executive (October 28, 1:30 PM).

Details

• 26-O-1545 (13 sponsors led by Bakhtiari, Wan, Lewis, Westmoreland and others, as substituted by City Utilities): adds definitions of recorded usage spike credits and recorded usage spike errors, revises the Commissioner's authority on billing adjustments, updates procedures of the Water and Sewer Appeals Board, and provides for sunsetting of usage spike credits and errors. Introduced September 21, adopted on substitute October 19.
• 26-O-1564 (Hillis and Bakhtiari, as amended): lets the Watershed Management Commissioner adjust accounts for the duration of the FLOAT program to resolve outstanding balance disputes. Introduced October 5, adopted as amended October 19.
• 26-R-3995 (Winston): refund of $62,147.04 for overpayments to water and sewer accounts; held September 21 and October 5, adopted on substitute October 19.
• The Audit Committee's performance audit 26.07, "DWM Water Billing and Collections Follow-Up", was filed 14-0 on September 21 (see Performance Audit Reports).
• October 5: Worthy, Norwood and Westmoreland's reappointment of Earl Young to the Water and Sewer Appeals Board was confirmed 12-0.

Sources

• Action minutes, City Council regular meeting, September 21, 2026: https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=4133&Inline=True
• Action minutes, City Council regular meeting, October 5, 2026: https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=4140&Inline=True
• Action minutes (draft), City Council regular meeting, October 19, 2026: https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=15&ID=4149&Inline=True

Log

2026-10-19 - City Council

26-O-1545 adopted on substitute 15-0; 26-O-1564 adopted as amended 15-0; 26-R-3995 adopted on substitute ($62,147.04); new refund resolution 26-R-4279 introduced.

2026-10-05 - City Council

26-O-1564 introduced and referred to City Utilities (October 13); Earl Young confirmed to the Water and Sewer Appeals Board 12-0; 26-R-3995 and 26-R-4124 held in Finance/Executive.

2026-09-21 - City Council

26-O-1545 introduced and referred to City Utilities (September 29); audit 26.07 on water billing and collections filed 14-0.