Huntersville, NC- Under investigation by the State Utilities Commission and still Aqua North Carolina demands customers pay disputed bills. The company was ordered to reconnect sewer services at no cost for one Stallings family.

But Dale and Patricia Price still got a bill, and they're not the only ones complaining of such billing practice.

"I'm just going to wait for my hearing, anything else other than that is outright harassment," said Elva Ranseur.

As a real estate broker, she knows if you're facing a problem, it helps to have a paper trail. That's why Elva has a two-inch thick manila folder that has "every bill they ever sent me."

Like other Aqua North Carolina customers that have faced similar circumstances, Elva had her sewer service cut last summer even though she paid her bill. 

"You see that bill right there," said Elva, "well that's almost a $1,000."

The NC Utilities Commission told FOX Charlotte that the actual cost to reconnect services should be $675. Either way, Elva says its not fair, "because I don't owe them money, why should my rights be taken away to have clean water."

Customers can request a Utilities Commission hearing for billing disputes. In the meantime, Aqua is suppose to reconnect sewer service. But while Elva waited for a resolution, Aqua kept demanding payment, even posting cut-off notices.

When Aqua filed it's response to the Commission, it listed reconnection costs of $675, not the $1,000 Elva has been previously billed. The company also pointed out her service had been previously cut for non-payment. True, but then Elva wondered why install and charge for a second disconnect valve?

"My line had been formally cut, so therefore, if it was for non-payment, they could have plugged it, and gone away," said Elva

It took six months, but Elva eventually had her issues resolved.

The Price Family from Stallings - whose similar problem FOX Charlotte reported - just received a bill from Aqua for reconnection fees, even though their case launched an investigation of the company.

"It seems like they're doing everything they can to steal as much money as they can from us," said Dale Price.

As the Price family gets ready to fight Aqua North Carolina for their billing practices, Elva has one piece of advice for them.

"Keep communicating, and one thing that assisted me very much is that I documented, documented, documented!"

FOX Charlotte checked with the Better Business Bureau, and there have been dozens of complaints against Aqua. They've all been resolved, but not necessarily to the customer's satisfaction.

Aqua told FOX Charlotte that the State Utilities Commission allows them to charge what they do.