Letter to the editor

Dear Editor:

During the recent power outages and the cold freezing weather that passed through the city recently. I noticed that my HSUD (Holly Springs Utilities Department) bills were a lot higher than this time last year. I figured it was due to maybe higher rates or increases that I had not heard about. I also noticed that my water flow was very weak, so I asked my neighbor to help me check my water tank pressure thinking maybe this was a leakage in the tank.

I am on a fixed income, so sometimes, we have to start from the bottom up. It never occurred to me to call the utility department to ask them why my bill had jumped thirty percent higher than this time last year. I figured if there was a problem with such a large increase they would raise a red flag and look into such an increase. I was told that there is no such technology.

Once I received my third bill of the year and it to was higher than this time last year, I called in a well professional which I could not afford. The well had to be pulled and they found a crack. They explained that when the utility is lost and turned back on it puts pressure on the time and may cause such damage, or it could have been caused from the cold snap we had a few weeks back.

The crack in my line led my well pump to be going for 24 hours a day for over two months. This led my bill to increase some thirty percent, and eventually no water pressure in my home. I have lived in this home since I built it thirty years ago, and this is the first time I can not afford to pay my utility bill in full.

The HSUD says it is not their responsibility to inform residents of why their bills have increased due to mechanical problems.

We have got to do better than this, I have sent in two dollars every month for 15 years to help others with their utility bill, where is my help. I know my neighbor and me are not alone.

Alan Stanford
Holly Springs