City utility bills were sent to the wrong addresses this week, because of a printer’s error. Residents and businesses shouldn’t pay the water, sewer and commercial sanitation bills, the city said.

The statements will be re-mailed to the correct addresses today, arriving in mailboxes Friday or Saturday.

Liz Hirst, Helena’s utility customer service supervisor, said the city sends an electronic address file to its printer each month. The company, Allegra Print and Imaging, runs the file through postal-service software to generate the bills. An error this month meant bills were sent to the wrong addresses.

“Everyone’s getting, in a lot of cases, their neighbor’s bills,” Hirst said. “It’s been one of those days.”

The fluke error hasn’t occurred in recent memory, she added.

Bills mailed out today will have “corrected” printed in red ink across the top, ensuring customers pay from the right bill, Hirst said.

The erroneous bills arrived at customers’ homes on Wednesday. Anyone who has sent a payment based on those bills should call

447-8450.

Reporter Larry Kline: 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com