Customers are paying for a service they use

For nearly 10 years, New Jersey American Water has provided an essential service to residents of Howell. We have done so in a professional manner, always looking for ways to improve our services.

After acquiring the Howell municipal water system, we immediately reduced water rates by 5 percent. In doing so, our customers across the state were being billed equally.

To suggest that our company is overcharging residents of The Reserve at the Manasquan River is irresponsible. New Jersey American Water is run like any other business. If an individual uses the services we provide, he/she should expect to be billed for that use.

The same individual would not place a two-hour international call and then call the phone company to dispute the 120-minute charge.

One would not run air conditioning all summer and not expect to pay a high energy bill from their provider.

It is important to realize that water usage costs customers less than one penny per gallon. Customers are billed for every 1,000 gallons of water used.

We understand how affected residents feel; however, New Jersey American Water is billing residents throughout the state based on the water consumed.

Lendel G. Jones

Vice President

External Affairs

New Jersey American

Water Company

Cherry Hill