City increases max amount for utility assistance

Program helps customers in distress pay delinquent bills

Yuma utility customers in distress may now get up to $250 in assistance. Previously, the city’s low-income assistance program helped customers with only one month’s water and sewer bill.

Raising the limit “might help them for that month that they’re past due and a little bit for the next month,” Utilities Department Director Jay Simonton told the City Council during a July 17 work session.

The city is also looking at relaxing some of the income restrictions “to try to help more folks,” Simonton said. “The whole purpose of the program is to help low income or customers in distress. The more customers we can help the better.”

On July 18, as part of the regular meeting, the council authorized City Administrator Greg Wilkinson to execute an agreement with the Western Arizona Council of Governments, which administers the program on behalf of the city.

The city also agreed to provide annual funding to WACOG for the program, with the contract being renewable up to three years, instead of coming before the council every year. The city has allocated $50,000 for the program in Fiscal Year 2018-19. Funds come from the Delinquency Fee Water Fund which was approved by the council and became effective Feb. 1, 2015.

The program is similar to those offered by other utilities where a customer receives a payment voucher to be applied toward the customer’s delinquent utility bill. The program is intended to prevent a customer from being disconnected from water services for non-payment during a financial hardship and provide education so assistance is not needed in the future, according to a staff report.

WACOG is a governmental nonprofit serving “income-challenged households and vulnerable” populations in Yuma, La Paz and Mohave counties. Among other things, WACOG assists low-income households in paying utility bills.

Under this agreement, WACOG will determine eligibility for persons seeking assistance by reviewing applications and verifying income eligibility and hardship qualifications. If the agency determines a person is eligible for assistance, it will issue a payment voucher for an

amount not to exceed $250.

Customers who do not meet the eligibility criteria must pay the amount due to avoid service disconnection. A customer’s account will remain connected pending the referral outcome.

WACOG may only provide a customer with payment assistance once every 12 months. It will also provide educational information regarding conservation and leak detection, budget management and other agency referrals that could provide additional help or job placement services.

WACOG must apply at least 80 percent of the funds toward issuing vouchers to qualified customers and may apply up to 20 percent of the funds for program delivery services. The agency will provide the city with scheduled monthly and semi-annual reports and process payments for the vouchers once per month.

When the $50,000 has been fully distributed to eligible customers, the utility assistance program will end for the current fiscal year.

Deputy Mayor Gary Knight called it a “great program” and added, “I’m really glad we got this going and we’re able to help our customers.” He asked how much the $50,000 lasts. Simonton noted that the funding currently lasts an entire year. Leftover money is rolled over to the next year.

Customers with delinquent (red) bills should call the city at (928) 3735076 to be referred to WACOG. For more information on this and other utility assistance available, call WACOG for an appointment at (928) 7823462.