City of Angels Delivers $224,000 in State-Funded Assistance to Customers Who Faced Financial Hardships During COVID-19

The City of Angels received $224,000 to assist over 250 qualified water and wastewater customers who faced financial hardships during Covid-19. The State Water Resources Control Board created a new program to provide relief for Californians with unpaid bills related to the pandemic. This funding covered water debt accrued by residential and commercial customers between March 4, 2020, and June 15, 2021. Staff at the City applied for this funding opportunity on behalf of its customers in 2021 and 2022 and worked closely with the Water Board to make sure the program guidelines would meet the financial and auditing requirements of the City.

The City of Angels has also applied for funding to assist wastewater and additional water customers through California’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), administered by the California Department of Community Services and Development. LIHWAP is a customer-based program where qualified, low-income households can apply to their Local Service Provider to receive a one-time credit (up to $2,000) on their water and wastewater bill. The City is collaborating with Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency (ATCAA), which is our community’s Local Service Provider.

The Covid-19 pandemic made it harder for many Californians to pay their bills due to job loss and other hardships. Water agencies generally don’t have the ability to provide direct relief from water and sewer rates, but a unique opportunity was available in this case for those in our communities who have faced financial hardships through this difficult time.

For more information on the LIHWAP program, please visit https://www.csd.ca.gov/lihwap.

To apply for assistance through ATCAA: https://www.atcaa.org/utility-bill-assistance