Brace yourself to potentially receive a higher than usual bill from the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission.
The water company advised customers Tuesday afternoon that their bills may be higher after the Blizzard of 2016 because crews had trouble reading meters, and the charges will be estimated.
"The recent blizzard, which left many outside meters covered in snow and remote reading devises inaccessible, has caused a significant delay in WSSC’s regular meter reading schedule," the company said in a statement. "As a result, many residential customers will receive estimated bills."
About 100,000 of WSSC's 430,000 residential customers can expect to receive higher than normal bills, the company said. Those customers will be given a 45-day extension on their due dates.
The estimated bills are based on customers' average daily consumption at the same time the previous year. The estimates will be reconciled with the actual meter readings on the following bills, WSSC said.
For more information, visit wsscwater.com/wintermetering or call 301-206-4001.