Public Advocate Bill de Blasio says he's taking steps to investigate unexplained water bill spikes.

De Blasio plans to hold hearings to discuss hundreds of complaints he's received about inflated water bills stemming from the city's new automated meter readers.

The hearings follow a report his office released in April detailing problems with the new high-tech water meters.

De Blasio says Department of Environmental Protection refuses to look into problems he says cost some homeowners thousands of dollars in extra charges.