Expand Lifeline Water Rates for Low Income Families!
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Board of Directors will decide on key budget matters at its meeting on April 12. One proposal includes closing critical gaps in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP).
The CAP provides a 50% discount off the water bill for basic water use to households earning up to 165% of the federal poverty level: Households earning less than $24,000 for a household of 1-2, or $34,000 for a household of 4 are eligible.
This threshold is lower than California's electricity rate relief program, CARE, which covers households earning up to 214% of the federal poverty line. The Customer Assistance program also does not cover EBMUD's wastewater bill, which can be up to a third of charges that customers face.
Closing both of these gaps would only cost EBMUD an additional $450,000, a very small cost out of an annual operating budget of $450 million. Yet this would make a big difference for families earning a low income but are just out of range of our program – about 1% of a family’s annual income.
Please use the form below to personalize a message to the EBMUD Board of Directors urging the Board to close important gaps in the Customer Assistance Program to protect low-income households. Thanks,
Andy Katz
EBMUD Director, Ward 4
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