Long Beach : Utility Bills to Be Monthly

Starting in the first half of next year, Long Beach utility customers will be billed every month, rather than every other month. Responding to complaints that bimonthly billings put too large a dent in modest home budgets, the City Council this week approved a plan to send out the city’s water and gas bills once a month.

The city, which now conducts its own meter readings, will contract with Southern California Edison Co. to also take gas and water readings, saving the city an estimated $710,000 over the next five years. Edison employees already visit virtually every Long Beach building once a month to take electricity meter readings. Edison has agreed to hire city meter readers as openings become available, and city officials say they will also retrain some meter readers for other city jobs.