The dirty little secret of HSUD billing, that no one is talking about
HOLLY SPRINGS, MS. (TVMO) - It is well known in the HSUD service area that there are over 500 HSUD electricity customers who have not been paying their bills for an extended period of time, but they still have power.
But there is a far more shocking twist to this billing crisis, then anyone could have even imagined.
Based on information received from inside sources at HSUD, there are over 100 electricity customers who are only paying around $35 per month for their power, no matter how much electricity they use. This is because the meters installed at their properties are not designed for residential properties.
In addition, there are a further 2,000 estimated customers who have ghost meters or shunts installed in their meter base, which allows them to receive FREE power and no one knows about it, as the meters and customer addresses are not even on the HSUD billing system.
The names that are on this exclusive list of over 2,100 customers that either pay very little for their electricity or nothing at all, have all had connections to the city in one form or another in the past 3 decades, such as friends of prior mayors or elected officials. Other people named on the list are friends and family of former HSUD management. There are also several people who are former employee’s of the city owned utility department.
As to how these people have been able to fly under the radar and either not pay a bill or pay very little, is very simple. Becuase for the ghost meters that are not on the billing system, they do not show up on any official lists.
And those that pay less than $35 per month evade capture as the only people state and federal regulators look for as people who are delinquent on their payments. So, providing the people with these CT meters installed pay their bills, state and federal regulators are none the wiser.
Based on conservative estimates, if these over 2,100 customers were to pay the same amount as everyone else, HSUD Electricity Division would generate close to an extra $1 million per year in revenue.
Federal regulators are aware of this issue and have been since at least March 2023. The only solution to catch these people out, is to conduct a full billing and meter audit, which will then show up who these people are.
However, it is understood that HSUD are aware of these people but fail to take action, for unknown reasons.