Hope Mills water customers receive nearly $5M in refunds

HOPE MILLS, N.C. (AP) — The Fayetteville Public Works Commission has paid out around $5 million in refunds to water customers in Hope Mills after it was discovered customers were charged differing rates.

The Fayetteville Observer reports (http://bit.ly/2pGUy9R ) that the board of the Fayetteville PWC changed the policy after last year’s discovery of the problem, which dates back to 2007, and began researching who was owed a refund. General Manager David Trego says the differences potentially affected 3,500 customers and potential refunds total $8 million.

The commission has been processing reimbursements since October, and the deadline for customers to make refund requests is June 30. After that date, Trego says unclaimed refunds will be turned over to the state’s unclaimed property fund, and eligible customers will have to submit information to the state’s treasury office.