Southeast Montana News

The City of Billings has engaged SL-serco Inc. to conduct an audit of its utility billing system, with work set to commence on November 6, 2024. The independent contractor will examine residential meters and has begun scheduling appointments for the electronic review of water meters.

The audit will assess the accuracy of software calculations, fees, data, automatic payments, and charges related to water, solid waste, wastewater, and stormwater services. Randomly selected accounts will undergo a detailed examination to ensure statistically valid data is collected.

SL-serco will also evaluate the city's efforts in keeping residents informed during the utility billing transition and identify potential improvements. A comprehensive review comparing current billing practices with industry standards is included in the scope of work.

Findings from this audit are expected by January 31, 2025. Upon completion, results will be presented at a public meeting with the Billings City Council. The cost for these services is $33,000.

Additionally, Billings has opted for further meter testing at an estimated cost of $42,500. This optional step increases the total project cost to $75,500. Residential water meters will be randomly chosen for physical removal and testing with property owner consent.

SL-serco plans to hire a third party for this meter testing and compile findings into a secondary report. Payment for the audit comes from utility finances; however, if errors are attributed to another entity through this process, remedies will be sought by the city.

City officials assure ongoing updates about SL-serco's progress via social media and their website. Significant milestones in the audit process will be announced before final results are available.

SL-serco was chosen after evaluating several firms due to its capability to provide comprehensive analysis from meter readings through billing processes—something other candidates lacked. With over six decades in utility consulting headquartered in Minneapolis, MN., SL-serco brings expertise in field troubleshooting and data analysis across various utilities sectors.