DPU
The Department of Public Utilities is in chaos. Past due accounts exceed $60 million. Water meters are running wide open in many locations across the city. Erroneous estimated bills are routine. Why is it that it takes a week to turn on a water or gas service when the US national standard is “next day?” There are many reports of citizen DPU account balances, often in error, for $5,000, 10,000, and even $20,000. How can this happen? Who is in charge? Could this be the worst case of mismanagement in the city? Did you know that the City’s own Utilities Review Commission, appointed by City Council, has been largely been unable to obtain records from DPU because they hide behind a flimsy veil of secret infrastructure, supposedly but questionably shielded from FOIA.
What am I missing here?
Richmond does it again and this time with the new administration that has said it would fix things:
https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/power-outage-richmond-bmx-aug-11-2025
Ive been on hold on the phone for DPU numerous times for over an hour
It’s inexcusable. They make many millions in profits, but can’t hire a few more customer service people?
Oh yeah, a week to turn on watet service . Really?
It’s all so consistent with the worst in class standards one finds everywhere with this city.
I’ve got to include this quote from a John Sanford book on more than one blog post here: “There are the worker bees, and the manager bees. The worker bees take care of the work, the manager bees take care of themselves.”
Richmond taxpayers are the worker bees…