Post Tagged with: "Affordability"

Water Finance Conference to conclude virtual sessions Thursday

Water Finance Conference to conclude virtual sessions Thursday

August 10 | August 12 | August 17 | August 19 The 2021 Water Finance Conference, which is being presented in a virtual format this month, will conclude its virtual sessions Thursday, Aug. 19 with Session 4. This year’s conference is covering a range of topicsRead More

Low-income water assistance program formally launched

Low-income water assistance program formally launched

The White House last week announced the official launch of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) housed at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).  This program is the first of its kind designed to provide funding to help low-income households affected by the COVID-19Read More

Water sector applauds proposed permanent low-income customer assistance program

Water sector applauds proposed permanent low-income customer assistance program

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance May 24, 2021 at 9:05 am

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) are applauding the introduction of H.R. 3293, the Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Programs Act of 2021. The bipartisan legislation, led by Reps. Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.) wouldRead More

Report: Water assistance programs exclude customers in need

Report: Water assistance programs exclude customers in need

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance May 24, 2021 at 8:30 am

A report released today by the Environmental Policy Innovation Center (EPIC) finds that customer assistance programs offered by large water utilities to help low-income customers pay their water bills are poorly designed and leave out deserving customers. The report, H2Affordability: How Water Bill Assistance ProgramsRead More

Call for Speakers! 2021 Virtual Water Finance Conference

Call for Speakers! 2021 Virtual Water Finance Conference

Organizers of the 2021 Water Finance Conference are looking for speakers for its seventh annual event to be held virtually, August 10, 12 17 & 19. Please email your 200-word abstract to Andrew Farr by May 21. The Water Finance Conference convenes executive-level utility professionals, including directors,Read More

New AWWA document aims to better address affordability in rulemakings

New AWWA document aims to better address affordability in rulemakings

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance April 20, 2021 at 8:46 am

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has announced the availability of a new document entitled “Improving the Evaluation of Household-Level Affordability in SDWA Rulemaking: New Approaches,” to help facilitate discussion of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) analysis of household-level affordability when making regulatory decisions. AWWA convenedRead More

Biden signs COVID stimulus including water affordability program funding

Biden signs COVID stimulus including water affordability program funding

President Joe Biden on Friday signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, legislation to deliver additional COVID-19 relief that contains $500 million in assistance for low-income clean water customers and support for critical water and sewer investments. This water assistance funding comes in addition toRead More

Water sector applauds House leadership for affordability program boost

Water sector applauds House leadership for affordability program boost

On Friday, the House of Representatives passed the American Rescue Plan Act, legislation to deliver additional COVID-19 relief that contains $500 million for low-income water utility bill assistance. This new funding for low-income water assistance comes in addition to the initial $638 million provided inRead More

NACWA says funding for federal affordability program “nowhere near” needed levels

NACWA says funding for federal affordability program “nowhere near” needed levels

Last week the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee marked up its contribution to the next COVID-19 relief bill last week. Included was an additional $500 million for the Low-Income Water Customer Assistance Program administered by Health and Human Services, bringing the potential totalRead More

The Conundrum of Water Affordability: What’s at Stake?

The Conundrum of Water Affordability: What’s at Stake?

Rates & Affordability, Water Finance February 8, 2021 at 10:01 am

By Ann Bui, Mike Orth & Bruce Allender The U.S. water industry has worked hard in recent years to remind people that potable water is not free. Procuring, treating, and distributing water is costly, and utilities need to cover their costs to make sure customers have safe drinkingRead More