Virginia Restaurant Receives $50K Water Bill Due to Billing Error

Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar says the Department of Public Utilities billed them over $50,000 in one month because of a billing error dating back to 2023.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A restaurant in Richmond, Virginia called Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar received a water bill for over $51,000 due to a billing error by the Department of Public Utilities. The co-owners say they "never knew anything was wrong" and are confused as to why the issue wasn't caught earlier, as the billing error dates back to 2023. The Department of Public Utilities says it has implemented process improvements to verify zero consumption reads for meters, which is how they discovered the problem with Social 52's meter.

Why it matters

This case highlights the challenges small businesses can face when dealing with unexpected and significant billing errors from utility providers. The large bill could have a major financial impact on the restaurant if they had to pay it immediately. It also raises questions about the oversight and verification processes utility companies have in place to catch billing issues in a timely manner.

The details

According to the report, the Department of Public Utilities billed Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar over $51,000 in one month due to a billing error that dated back to 2023. The co-owners, James Baldwin and Mikey Swafford, said they "never knew anything was wrong" with the billing. The department stated that it had implemented process improvements to verify zero consumption reads for meters, which is how they discovered the problem with Social 52's meter transmitter being damaged and resulting in zero consumption reads.

  • The billing error dates back to 2023.
  • The large $51,594.99 bill was received by the restaurant in 2026.

The players

Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar

A restaurant located in Richmond, Virginia that received an over $50,000 water bill due to a billing error.

James Baldwin

The co-owner of Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar who expressed confusion over the billing error that dated back to 2023.

Mikey Swafford

The co-owner of Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar who runs the small business with James Baldwin.

Department of Public Utilities

The utility provider that billed Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar over $51,000 due to a billing error, and has since implemented process improvements to verify zero consumption reads for meters.

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What’s next

The Department of Public Utilities stated it is working with Social 52 Kitchen and Craft Bar to ensure the bill is accurate and that any payments are manageable for the restaurant.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of utility providers having robust verification processes in place to catch billing errors in a timely manner, especially for small businesses that may struggle to absorb the financial impact of such large, unexpected bills. It also underscores the need for open communication and flexibility between utility companies and their customers when billing issues arise.