JXN Water shuts off service to residents with unpaid bills

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) — JXN Water shut off service to several customers with unpaid bills in one Jackson neighborhood, leaving residents without running water for basic needs.

Bertha Anderson, a longtime resident on Wood Street, owes JXN Water more than $3,000. Her bill was due Nov. 26.

“I can’t cook, I can’t flush my toilet, and I can’t do anything, so now what am I supposed to do?” Anderson said.

When Anderson turns the faucet knobs on her kitchen sink, nothing comes out except small drops of water left in the pipes.

Anderson is not alone on Wood Street. Shutoff notices hang on doors throughout her neighborhood.

“I don’t know how we are going to make it. Somebody is going to have to step in,” Anderson said.

Ward 3 Councilman Kenneth Stokes held a news conference Thursday to address the situation.

“JXN Water needs to handle these situations better or give it back to the city,” Stokes said.

Stokes said the company should work with elderly customers before cutting them off completely.

“We’re trying to get these bills adjusted. You can adjust bills that are wrong. We tried to do that, but we ran into roadblock after roadblock,” Stokes said.

Stokes got permission from Mayor John Horhn to turn on fire hydrants so residents can fill buckets to flush toilets and clean.

Starting Friday, his team will provide drinking water to affected residents.

Anderson’s daughter in Georgia paid part of her bill, but the water is not back on yet.

“They say it will be three or four more days before it’s back on. What am I going to do in the meantime?” Anderson said.

JXN Water Interim Third-Party Manager Ted Henifin said all customers got proper notice before action was taken.

He said bills and shutoff dates were sent out well in advance.

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