City Of Riverside Fires 2 Utilities Workers For Making Up Phony Meter Readings

RIVERSIDE (AP) — The city of Riverside has fired a pair of public utilities workers for making up phony electric meter readings while sitting in their trucks.

Public Utilities General Manger David Wright told the Riverside Press-Enterprise in a Saturday story that billing system safeguards started catching more mistaken bills than usual, and the bills were traced to the two meter readers.

The city put a tail on the meter readers and learned they were sitting in their trucks much of the time and plugging in phony numbers.

The two men were fired. Wright said he couldn't give out names or other personal details because personnel matters are confidential.

He says hundreds of customers were affected, but their bills will be automatically corrected the next time their meter is properly read.

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