As the city of Jackson ramps up its water collections efforts, turn offs for delinquent customers will be inevitable.
That being said, residents who have had their water cut off for nonpayment shouldn’t reach for their water meter keys to turn the water back on. The keys no longer work.
“If the system’s shut off using the software, they are not able to turn it back on without the use of the same software,” said Carla Gammill, deputy director of public works administration.
More than 50,000 new water meters were installed across the city as part of Jackson’s $91 million “energy performance contract” with Siemens.
About 2,700 old meters still remain, but they’re located at vacant or abandoned houses.
Gammill didn’t say when or if those would be replaced.
With the installation of those meters, as well as new billing software, billing officials are able to shut off services to homes and businesses from the office. Once payments are made or payment arrangements are set up, the service also has to be restored from the office.
In other words, customers can’t manually turn their water back on at the meter once the city shuts it off.
Meters are still equipped with an emergency shutoff switch, meaning residents can turn their water off to make repairs.
