City of Amarillo Regular Council Meeting 10/27/26

At its regular meeting on October 27, 2026, the Amarillo City Council heard a presentation from NewGen Strategies and Solutions on its independent review of the city’s utility billing system. The consultant reported 99.78% accuracy in its bill review and estimated about $39,000 in overbillings, while attributing some bill increases to a prior water and sewer rate change, an extended billing cycle during the system conversion, and higher water use during hot, dry weather. The review also found that the city had issued more than $500,000 in billing credits and had no written credit policy. Council members questioned whether all affected customers had received relief, raised concerns about unexplained usage spikes, meter testing, customer-service delays, and the need for field investigations and clearer usage data. The consultant recommended documenting a credit policy, investigating anomalies proactively, and improving customer access to metering information. No procurement award, spending vote, or contract action was identified in the provided transcript.