$1M in emergency funds to help struggling Tacomans pay utility bills; shutoffs suspended
Tacoma Public Utilities customers struggling to pay their utility bills amid the COVID-19 outbreak can now receive financial support.
The TPU board approved $1 million in funding Tuesday through the creation of an Emergency Assistance Program for low-income customers.
“The new program will support Tacoma Public Utilities (TPU) customers whose incomes are within 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines, as established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,” according to a press release from TPU.
That translates to a one-person household maximum monthly household income of $2,127, or a four-person maximum monthly household income of $4,367.
The program will provide a utility credit of up to $250 for eligible single-family households, usable toward TPU bills.
Implementing the new program allows more people to qualify for bill pay assistance than under current regulations.
“By making these funds available and expanding the eligibility guidelines of our bill assistance program, we can support significantly more households during this state of emergency,” said Karen Larkin, chair of the Public Utility Board, in a press release.. “We are proud to be part of this community, and it is crucial that we are there for our customers.”
To see if you are eligible, contact TPU at 253-502-8600 or online at MyTPU.org/COVID19.
Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards also announced Tuesday she would be directing Tacoma Public Utilities to suspend all disconnections for the duration of the state of emergency in Tacoma.
“What we want to make sure is that we’re giving you peace of mind to know that you can care for yourself and your families, and that we’re working out all of the details,” Woodards said at a press conference on Tuesday.
TPU has also made the following changes:
▪ Payment plans may be extended to 12 weeks and late fees may be waived for residential and business customers.
▪ New precautions have been put in place for dispatchers and field staff when visiting homes to curb the spread of the virus to both customers and employees.
This story was originally published March 17, 2020 at 12:24 PM.
