GILBERT, Ariz. — “How in the world did my water rates jump to $1,200?” asked Darrell Grossen, one of dozens of Gilbert residents attending the town’s final public listening session Wednesday. Like many in the community, Grossen is grappling with sudden spikes in water bills that have left some homeowners facing hundreds, even thousands of dollars in charges.
Water rates in Gilbert have risen roughly 75 percent over the past two years, but that doesn’t explain the extreme fluctuations that residents say have left them frustrated and worried. Grossen said his bills typically averaged $100 to $200 a month — until a sudden spike this summer.
“What if we’ve been overbilled? How long has this been happening? Are we ever going to get a credit for that?” he asked…