Good news for Vermonters behind on their utility bills: A state program to help people catch up on payments has expanded to include water and sewer bills.
The program is designed to help Vermonters behind on their bills because of the pandemic.
While many water utilities were initially excluded from the program, now their customers can take advantage of the $8.5 million in funding made available through the federal CARES Act. The program expires Dec. 15, and utilities are urging their customers to apply now.
The expanded program launched last Thursday; 105 more utilities have joined, and the list of water utilities participating in the program “is growing almost daily,” said Riley Allen, deputy commissioner of Vermont’s Department of Public Service.
An additional $500,000 of CARES Act money was reallocated by the Legislature’s Joint Fiscal Committee earlier this month to expand the program.
“There was a growing recognition by key legislators and members of the Scott administration that there was a potentially important gap,” Allen wrote in an email to VTDigger.
The program is called VCAAP, short for Vermont Covid-19 Arrearage Assistance Program. It originally covered electric, natural gas, landline telephone and private water systems, and now covers municipal water and sewer systems, too.
Of the $8.5 million available, $4.84 million has been committed to help people catch up with their bills. People have to apply for the program, and the money is then applied to bills that are at least 60 days overdue.
State officials and Vermont utilities have been trying to get the word out to residents who could use the help to catch up on their bills. That effort has been paying off.
“We’ve had kind of a steady run over the last 45 days,” Allen said. “That’s actually increased in just the last few days and kind of gives me much more hope that we’re going to be able to apply the full amount that is available to us through the program.
However, Allen said participation from businesses and nonresidential customers has remained light.
Good for small utilities, too
The program also offers relief to small utilities that rely on ratepayers to pay their bills.
Liz Royer, executive director of the Vermont Rural Water Association, said even a small amount can make a big difference for some water utilities.
“For some of these very, very small utilities, they may only have 20 customers. Even receiving a $20 credit could make a big difference to their annual budget,” she said.
Royer’s message to Vermonters who are eligible: “Take advantage now and take advantage quickly. We don’t know if and when this money may run out. We don’t know if it will be extended, if there will be another relief bill. This is your chance.”
Michael Inners is treasurer of the Grand Isle Consolidated Water District, which serves about 800 homes and businesses. The district is now enrolled in the state program, and Inners things about 25 ratepayers are eligible for help.
Inners said an information session held by the state last week generated a lot of interest among water utilities in the state. While the program doesn’t pay for everything, it can help customers get their balances down significantly, he said.
Receiving payment is important for the water district, too. “We do need to have income in order to maintain the system,” Inners said. “My personal sense is that people are not paying because they can’t. Until the economy improves again, there’s probably going to be some people in that category for a long time.”
Grand Isle Consolidated Water District is directly contacting customers who are eligible, encouraging them to apply. Many utilities have been advertising and reaching out through social media and the mail, encouraging people to apply.
“There is a much greater need than what is covered by this program,” Royer said. And, as the pandemic continues into winter, “the need is still going to be there, and it’s going to continue to grow.”