An online petition gained thousands of signatures in less than a day from outraged LP&L customers, but the company says it is a misunderstanding about how utility billing works.

Joseph Lee said he has lived in the same house for three years, and his bill has never been as high, with over $600 dollars due this month and hundreds more due from his payment plan.

“If it was like this all year that’s fine, but I’ve been here three years. There’s no reason for any of that,” Lee said. “I don’t water my yard, so there’s no way I used 36,000 gallons of water last month. There’s none. We do laundry maybe twice a week and then we literally take five minute showers, the kids take five minute showers.”

Lee said this time last year, he only used 9,000 gallons of water. He sent his kids to live at their grandparents house this summer, because Lee said it is too expensive to have everyone at home.

“It’s not fair to the family that they can keep jacking up their rates, and making it harder and harder for people to live inside city limits,” Lee said. “I’m not the only one this is happening to.”

Lee is worried about being charged for water he thinks he isn’t using, and started the petition on Change.org called “See that LP&L stops taking advantage of the customers.”

LP&L said people aren’t looking at the full picture. Their company sets the rates for electric usage alone, while the city charges for water and other utilities.

“They need to look at, is it LP&L electric? Is it City of Lubbock water? What is the driving factor in your bill going from where it normally should be.”

The bills come listed together, though, in the same envelope, and you call the same number for customer service. The City’s Utility Department even sits on the first floor inside LP&L’s building.

A company spokesperson said they understand it is confusing, but as far as electric goes, they are right on track with the state average at $107.60 cents. During the summer months, that can increase by two or three times.

“If you’re not aware of it, it can be shocking… ‘Where did this cost come from?’”  “For a vast amount of bills in July, and they could see a bill and it’s because we have 22 out of the 30 days of the month where your temperature is close to 100 degrees, which is going to drive your AC unit.”

Rose said in the summer months, turn your AC up by 8-10 degrees and close your blinds. He also urged customers to make sure they are looking at the breakdown in the utilities in their bill.

Customers are still confused and frustrated. Lee says he follows all the tips, but is baffled by the numbers on his bill.

“When we leave for the day we turn the air conditioner off,” Lee said. “There’s nothing running except a ceiling fan. And that’s just to kind of keep it tolerable when we get home. There’s no water running.”

Lee said he has checked for leaks, and has even asked LP&L to come out and check his meters. He does not think anyone came.

LP&L said an employee comes monthly to check the meters, and that anyone is welcome to come by their offices for assistance.

But Lee told EverythingLubbock.com something must be done, and he believes the petition is the best way.

“You’ve got hundreds of comments on here,” Lee said. “This is our best way to get our voices heard. We need people to give their testimonials of it and hopefully make a change in this whole monopoly that is LP&L because it shouldn’t be this hard to make a living, especially in Lubbock.”