The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO) has had billing issues since it changed its software under the Landrieu administration. As a result, Louisiana introduced new laws to tackle these persistent problems, but issues remain.
New Louisiana State Laws
Several new state laws aim to address SWBNO’s ongoing billing failures:
- House Bill 965: Gives customers the option to pay a fixed monthly rate or month-to-month. The new law also creates an arbitration program consisting of two arbiters, one residential and one commercial. They determine your appropriate bill amount if there’s a dispute.
- House Bill 525: Pushed by Rep. Matthew Willard eliminates estimated billing. The SWBNO can only bill for actual services rendered to custmers
These laws aim to protect residents from unjust disconnections.
New Orleans City Council’s Rules
The New Orleans City Council also implemented rules to improve SWBNO’s billing practices:
- Enhanced Dispute Resolution Process: SWBNO claims it now offers a clearer, faster process for residents disputing incorrect bills, helping to resolve issues more efficiently.
- Billing Updates: SWBNO must provide updates to the City Council on billing accuracy, disputes, and improvements made to the system.
- Customer Advocate Office: The Council created this office specifically to assist residents with SWBNO billing issues, offering mediation and guidance in resolving conflicts.
These measures aim to add layers of oversight and ensure SWBNO becomes more accountable to its customers.
SWBNO’s Impact on Residents’ Credit Scores
Despite these reforms, SWBNO continues to report false data to credit bureaus, damaging residents’ credit scores. Even with known billing problems, SWBNO marks accounts as unpaid, harming residents’ financial stability. This misuse of government power impacts residents’ ability to secure loans, rent homes, and maintain good credit.
The consequences are severe: affected residents face credit denials, higher interest rates, and financial reputations tarnished through no fault of their own. SWBNO’s inaccurate credit reporting not only hurts individuals but also reflects poorly on city governance and oversight.
The Urgent Need for Action
Immediate intervention is necessary. SWBNO’s ongoing billing and reporting issues undermine public trust and harm the city’s most vulnerable residents. Legislative measures, City Council rules, and resident advocacy must combine to force SWBNO to improve its practices.
Related: SWB – A Managed Train Wreck
Residents should document all communications with SWBNO, use the enhanced dispute processes, and seek help from the Customer Advocate Office when needed. Local leaders must hold SWBNO accountable, ensuring that all laws and rules are followed rigorously.
To move forward, SWBNO must prioritize accurate billing, transparency, and fairness in treating residents. Continuous oversight and reforms are essential for rebuilding trust and protecting the financial well-being of New Orleans citizens.
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu
Publisher — Black Source Media
Jeff Thomas
Publisher • Opinion Columnist • New Orleans
Jeff Thomas is the publisher of Black Source Media and one of New Orleans’ most direct voices on civic affairs, economic justice, and Louisiana politics. He writes from the intersection of experience and accountability — as a licensed general contractor,a tech company founder and executive with over 30 years experience, and a businessman who has worked across the city’s civic, media, and construction ecosystems for decades.
His Sunday column covers Louisiana legislative politics, insurance discrimination, housing policy, and the forces shaping Black community life in New Orleans and across the state. Thomas writes in the tradition of Black journalists who hold power accountable without apology — building arguments from data, delivering verdicts from evidence, and speaking to Black New Orleans with the directness the moment demands.
He is also the principal of EA Inspection Services, LLC, a government inspection services company. Black Source Media is his platform for the civic conversation New Orleans has needed and too rarely had.
Selected Articles by Jeff Thomas
Black Neighborhoods Pay the Highest Insurance Rates in Louisiana. Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know.
They Didn’t Yell the N-Word. They Went to Law School, Bided Their Time, and Rewrote the Constitution Instead.
Vappie vs. Morrell: Why Does Justice Look Different in New Orleans?
The State Has the Money. New Orleans East Just Needs Them to Use It.
The Failure of Mitch Landrieu