Question: Why can’t the Board of Water Supply bill once a month instead of every two months? The amount for two months is a lot of money.

Answer: You may already have gotten notice that the BWS plans to switch to a new billing system and begin billing all customers monthly beginning in early 2012.

Currently, only the largest water users are billed monthly.

"We expect that this change will lead to more timely information and better customer service by allowing customers to better align their payments with other bill schedules," said BWS spokeswoman Tracy Burgo.

Monthly billing also will provide more frequent data on water consumption, which should help customers make adjustments to water use and help detect leaks, etc., she said.

Question: Can you please find out what is going on with bills from the Board of Water Supply? I have always paid my water/sewer bill monthly. Now the statement on the bill saying this can be done has disappeared. Can we still pay monthly? I am getting bills with due dates only a week apart. Furthermore, payments I made weeks ago are still being included in the total due. Despite these errors, the BWS seems to have had no problem including the 4 percent sewer charge increase on my recent bill. I believe billing is being done on the mainland. Is that the reason for the lag in keeping bills current?

Answer: You did not give us contact information for us to get more details, so the BWS wasn’t able to give a definitive answer regarding your situation.

However, spokeswoman Tracy Burgo pointed out that customers billed bimonthly (every two months) who are in good standing have the option of splitting their payments in two: half the first month, by the due date, and the other half a month after that.

"This has not changed," she said.

However, once customers fail to pay the minimum due by the due date, they will lose that two-payment option, she said, and "thereafter, they would have to pay the entire bill by the due date."

Burgo suggested you call the BWS at 748-5000 during normal business hours to determine what’s happening in your case.

Regarding sewer rates, the BWS points out it has nothing to do with the recent increases.

Sewer charges, handled by the city Department of Environmental Services, and BWS water charges are separate, but combined on a single billing issued to customers of both agencies.

However, "The BWS does not establish sewer rates nor does it receive any revenue from sewer fees," Burgo said.

While a mainland company does print, stuff and mail out customer bills (see www.staradvertiser.com/news/20110628_Late_delivery_of_water_bills_is_blamed_on_postal_service.html), meter readings and bill collection are done locally by BWS employees, she said.

"We are not aware of any reason that (using a mainland vendor) would cause a significant lag in the issuance or receipt of customer bills," she said.

AUWE

To the young lady with the long black hair, driving her father’s SUV with veteran license plate. You cut me off real close on Kalanianaole Highway recently as we were about to enter Kahala just to go one car space ahead, only to be stopped by the traffic light. You gained nothing by your action. You did not signal that you were going to change lanes. I doubt you are aware that the law says motorists should signal in advance of their intention to change lanes as well as when making turns. It will benefit you greatly if you read the driver’s manual and practice what it teaches. It might save your young life. — Concerned Motorist

Write to "Kokua Line" at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.