Wis. utility to pay after district overpays $310K

BLACK EARTH, Wis. (AP) — A Dane County school district is getting a refund of almost $310,000 after the local utility accidentally overcharged it for at least five years.

A Wisconsin State Journal report says the Wisconsin Heights School District overpaid due to faulty meter readings.

The district had made energy improvements about two years ago but didn’t see an expected drop in its utility bills. So it asked the Public Service Commission to investigate. The commission found that the Black Earth Utility meter was showing triple the actual amount of energy used.

The Black Earth Village Board voted this week to reimburse the district by Jan. 1. The school board is expected to approve the agreement Monday.

District Administrator Mark Elworthy says the money will be used to repair a school roof.