The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) announced a new billing option for eligible customers, made possible by the recent passage of Act 393 during the 2024 Regular Legislative Session. Residential customers without a smart meter now have the opportunity to opt into a temporary fixed-rate billing plan, offering consistency in their monthly bills until the utility upgrades their meter.
SWBNO will begin sending letters to eligible customers detailing their fixed rate and how to opt in. The new rate will take effect at the start of the next full billing cycle once the opt-in process is complete.
How the Fixed Monthly Rate is Calculated:
Fixed Rate Based on Usage: The monthly fixed rate is calculated using the past 12 months of water usage, excluding any open disputes.
Disputed Bills: If a customer believes the fixed rate calculation included a previously disputed bill, the customer can request a review. SWBNO’s customer service team will verify whether the bill is eligible for removal.
“Ready to Serve” Fees: The fixed rate includes standard “ready to serve” fees, covering infrastructure costs for wastewater and drinking water services. Additionally, the bill includes separate fees collected by the City of New Orleans for sales tax, as well as trash and recycling services.
“We understand the financial pressures our customers are facing, and we want to provide more consistency to help manage their water bills,” said Ghassan Korban, Executive Director of SWBNO. “This temporary fixed-rate option offers predictability and peace of mind while we work to bring smart metering technology to every customer, improving accuracy and transparency.”
The fixed rate will remain in place until the new smart meter is installed. Once installed, a customer’s bill will reflect actual water use based on data from their smart meter. This technology provides more accurate water use readings, and while the meter may show higher or lower usage than the fixed rate reflects, there will be no charges for any differences during this transition.
For more information on smart meters and the ongoing improvements to the customer experience, visit: swbno.org/Projects/SmartMetering.