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A Richmond, Virginia, restaurant has received a water bill of $51,594.99 after a damaged meter transmitter was found to have been recording zero consumption. Because of a billing error dating back to 2023, social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar said the Department of Public Utilities billed it more than $50,000 in a single month. The department said that, where no consumption is reported, customers are charged only a monthly service charge. The Department of Public Utilities told 8News it had introduced several process improvements over the past year. The department also explained how the billing works: customers receive a monthly service charge, so if no water consumption is reported, that charge is the only amount billed.
Co-owner James Baldwin told 8News he “never knew anything was wrong”, adding that the company’s water and gas bills are on autopay. One of these, the department said, was to verify zero consumption reads for meters. The department said its workers investigated the problem and billed the restaurant accordingly, according to the PEOPLE.
During that process, the department found that the meter transmitter at the restaurant had been damaged, which had resulted in zero consumption reads.
Local outlet Richmond BizSense, Social 52 opened in 2013, according to the restaurant’s history. The restaurant closed temporarily in 2018 for a three-month remodel, which former co-owner Walied Sanie told Richmond BizSense included changes to the layout, furniture and menu.
Its priority is to make sure the bill is accurate, after which it works with the customer to make payments manageable, according to the department. The Department of Public Utilities acknowledged to 8News that receiving a large bill can be challenging for customers.