VALDOSTA — Some Valdosta residents are getting unpleasant surprises when they receive their city utility bills.

The City has not raised its rates, according to an email Wednesday afternoon to The Valdosta Daily Times, and it isn’t necessarily a sign of increased consumption.

Instead, it’s all Hurricane Helene’s fault.

The arrival of the hurricane on Sept. 26 interrupted the City’s meter reading schedule. Consequently, billing cycles were extended, and some bills reflect more days of usage than usual. In many cases, it covered a six-week cycle instead of four weeks.

Some residents’ next bills will reflect a shorter billing cycle as the City works to get back on schedule.

“We understand the concerns our residents have regarding the recent utility bills. We are committed to returning to our regular billing schedule by January and are here to support our community through this transition,” stated City Manager Richard Hardy.

To help this make more sense, the utility bills include a daily usage breakdown, so residents can compare water consumption during this extended period with prior billing cycles. For help locating or interpreting this information, please contact the Billing Department at (229) 259-3556.

The email said the City understands the financial impact of this unexpected change. If you’re unable to pay the full amount, reach out to the Billing Department for assistance.