Apex (NC) Utilities on Steadier Ground as 2025 Closes, Town Manager Says

As the town completes water meter upgrades and advances its electric overhaul, improving accuracy and fewer billing issues point to steadier service for Apex residents in the year ahead.

Photo Credit / Courtesy of the Town of Apex

Apex, NC, Dec. 10, 2025 — Apex’s utility systems will end 2025 on firmer footing, with Town Manager Randy Vosburg telling the Town Council on Tuesday that meter upgrades, billing cycle stabilization, and reductions in customer service backlogs are all trending in the right direction.

The update was delivered during the Council’s final regular meeting of the year and covered topics ranging from meter replacement timelines to ongoing challenges facing solar customers. While issues remain, the overall picture was notably more stable than earlier in the year.

Meter Replacement Work Reaches Milestones

Vosburg began by noting significant progress on the Town’s large-scale meter modernization. The water meter replacement effort, which has been underway for years, is now finished, with final checks underway.

Electric meter upgrades are also moving forward. Crews have replaced roughly 4,000 meters so far, with about 28,000 meters remaining to install through next fall. Early indicators are promising: the upgraded electric meters are achieving a 99% read success rate, which should reduce manual review and improve billing system consistency.

Billing Cycles Settle Back Into Normal Rhythm

After a period of irregular billing cycle lengths that frustrated residents throughout the year, Vosburg said the Town’s two utility billing cycles have largely stabilized:

• Cycle 1 averaging 30.2 days

• Cycle 2 averaging 30.3 days

These numbers may seem small, but for billing operations, consistency is a significant factor in preventing spikes in customer confusion and reducing discrepancies that trigger account reviews.

Variance Reports Fall Sharply

Vosburg also highlighted what many staff consider the clearest sign of improvement: the steady decline in variance reports, which flag unusual usage or atypical meter readings.

In Cycle 1, variances dropped from 5,469 in October to 945 in November and 865 in December.
Cycle 2 saw a similar pattern, falling from 5,919 in September to 1,125 in November.

“We continue to see a decreasing volume as it relates to utility billing, which is a positive indicator,” Vosburg said.

Staff believe the sub-1,000 range may now represent the system’s normal operating level.

Backlog Shrinks, But Solar Accounts Require More Time

The Town is also continuing to work through a large number of previously unresolved customer billing cases. Vosburg reported that 75% of the backlog has now been resolved, leaving about 250 cases still open.

Most of those remaining involve solar households, which tend to be more complex due to variations in older meter technology, inconsistent reporting, and the interplay between consumption and generation data.

“As a group, solar is probably still the most impacted currently, and we’re working through that,” Vosburg told Council.

He noted the solar backlog should ease as more customers transition to the new, unified electric metering platform now being installed town-wide.

What Residents Should Watch for in Early 2026

Looking ahead, Apex residents can expect:

• More predictable monthly bills

• Fewer unusual spikes triggered by inconsistent meter data

• Faster problem resolution once all electric meters are aligned under the same system

• Continued improvements in call volume and response times from the utilities team

While some complex accounts, especially solar, are likely to extend into January, Vosburg said staff remain focused on closing out the remaining issues as early in the new year as possible.

“We hit the 75% mark today, so we have roughly 25% left,” he said.