The City of Houston will begin disconnecting water service Tuesday for thousands of utility customers with significantly overdue balances.<\/p>\n
Houston Public Works has sent notices to approximately 15,000 customers who collectively owe the city about $30 million.<\/p>\n
The city said customers were identified based on several factors, including having made no payment for at least 90 consecutive days, owing more than $500 and having a Sensus remote-reading device.<\/p>\n
Mayor John Whitmire’s administration said the city had held off on water shutoffs for the past two years following widespread complaints about inaccurate water bills in 2024.<\/p>\n
During that time, the city replaced faulty meters, corrected billing problems and worked to improve the accuracy of its utility bills.<\/p>\n
“Today, we have confidence in the accuracy of our billing, and we have a responsibility to collect payment for services that have been provided,” the city said in a statement. “We cannot continue to carry unpaid balances indefinitely.”<\/p>\n
Customers should receive notice and an opportunity to address their balances before service is disconnected. The city said payment plans and information about financial assistance are available.<\/p>\n
Anyone who believes their bill is incorrect or needs help with a past-due balance should call Houston Public Works at 713-371-1400 to ask about billing disputes, payment arrangements or assistance options.<\/p>\n