Lynchburg Utility Board Votes to Refund Sewer Fees
The board approved a partial refund after a resident discovered their home was never connected to the public sewer system.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Home Repair
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The Lynchburg Metro Utility Department board voted 4-0 to refund over $1,000 in sewer charges to homeowner Jim Dore. The decision follows the discovery that the property at 385 Main St. had remained on a septic system despite being billed for public sewer services.
Why it matters
The board approved the refund and waived the sewer tap fee to rectify a billing error caused by inaccurate property connection records. Officials determined the refund period by reviewing inspection footage from April 2025 that confirmed the home lacked a public sewer connection.
The utility department agreed to refund sewer charges spanning April 2025 through September 2026. The board also voted to waive the sewer tap fee, while Jim Dore has separately ordered a grinder pump to connect to the public sewer line.
The players
Jim Dore
He is the homeowner at 385 Main St. who discovered the discrepancy between his billing and his property's actual sewage infrastructure.
Ronnie Cunningham
He serves as the Utility Manager who will coordinate the refund process with the homeowner.
Lynchburg Metro Utility Department
This is the local agency responsible for managing water and sewer services for the city.
The details
Excavation for a new outbuilding at 385 Main St. revealed underground piping that led to a septic tank rather than the city main. To verify the discrepancy, the homeowner ran water through the house and confirmed it did not flow into the public system.
Timeline
Sewer fees were documented by the utility beginning in 2022.
Inspection footage of the property was reviewed by the board on April 29, 2025.
The approved refund period for sewer charges starts in April 2025.
The approved refund period for sewer charges ends in September 2026.
The utility board vote took place on October 24, 2026.
Culture Shift
This correction reflects a broader trend of residents taking a more active role in verifying municipal utility infrastructure during home renovations. It follows the established protocols of the Lynchburg utility billing audit standards for addressing infrastructure classification errors.
Homeowners who suspect they are being billed for public utility services they do not receive can seek a billing audit from the utility department. Residents should also verify their property's connection status during major landscaping or outbuilding construction projects.
The takeaway
This case highlights the importance of checking property utility maps before beginning major excavation work on a property. Residents who discover discrepancies in service billing should present evidence, such as inspection footage, to their local utility board for review.
Further reading
For more information on local service protocols, visit the Lynchburg Home Repair section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Cool Down.
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