The American Samoa Power Authority's notified the public today of a retrospective rise in its charges for water, electricity and rubbish collection.
Our correspondent in Pago Pago says the new charges were agreed last year but their introduction delayed for six months after the hours of government workers were cut.
Monica Miller says the higher rates went into effect on April the first but were made public today.
"While the rates will not be reflected until this bill that comes out on May 26th I think if they had told us earlier people would be more conservative with their use of water for example because that's one of the biggest increases in this new bill."
Monica Miller says in the past the Power Authority has penalised customers behind in any of their bill payments by cutting off their water supply first.
