City of Billings faces lawsuit over disputed water bills

A recent lawsuit has been filed against the City of Billings regarding significant discrepancies in water bills. This class action suit, brought to the Yellowstone County District Court by Western Justice Associates, names five individuals as plaintiffs and addresses concerns of the broader affected community. The plaintiffs claim that the city’s Public Works Department has been engaging in a deliberate scheme resulting in overcharging for water usage and pursuing unjustified debts. The root of the issue lies in changes made to the city’s billing system in 2024, leading to countless residents receiving exorbitant bills.

As residents raised complaints and queries regarding these inflated bills, the city agency allegedly offered various implausible explanations, such as attributing excessive water usage to leaks, continuously running sprinkler systems, leaky systems, or water theft. Furthermore, an audit conducted by a contracted third party that examined fewer than 30 meters failed to adequately explain why residents had been billed for quantities of water beyond what they could plausibly consume in a month. Despite numerous requests from residents to review their bills and address potential errors, the defendants purportedly chose to ignore these concerns.

In what appears to be a response to these disputes, the city recently disclosed that 50 Billings accounts were without water due to service termination over non-payment issues. The city administration has been made aware of the legal action taken against them, but they have refrained from offering any public comments on the matter as of yet.

This legal battle underscores the frustration felt by many residents of Billings who have experienced prolonged billing disputes and have been left with unanswered questions regarding the accuracy and fairness of their water bills. The lawsuit aims to hold the city’s Public Works Department accountable for the alleged overcharging and exploitation of residents through a flawed billing system. The lack of transparency and accountability in addressing residents’ concerns has further exacerbated the situation, leaving many feeling unheard and disregarded by the city authorities.

While the city government has taken certain steps, such as conducting audits and shutting off water services for delinquent accounts, these actions have not been sufficient to address the underlying issues or restore trust among the affected residents. The lawsuit serves as an attempt to secure compensatory damages for the plaintiffs and others impacted by what is perceived as a systemic problem within the city’s water billing system. It remains to be seen how this legal battle will unfold and what changes may result from the increased scrutiny on the City of Billings’ billing practices.