--------- Original Message ---------Subject: FW: TPU Emergency Assistance Program
From: "Shawn Paton" <shawnp@uwpc.org>
Date: 3/17/20 1:40 pm
To:
Sharing information from Tacoma Public Utilities about assistance for customers impacted by COVID-19
From: Turner, Christina <CTurner@ci.tacoma.wa.us>
Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2020 11:30 AM
Subject: TPU Emergency Assistance Program
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Good Morning,
I hope this email finds you well.
On behalf of Tacoma Public Utilities, we wanted to share this information with our partners:
This morning the Public Utility Board unanimously approved the creation of a new Emergency Assistance Program for low-income customers, funded for up to $1 million. Please see the attached press release.
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. The Emergency Assistance Program will provide a utility credit of up to $250 for eligible single-family households, usable toward TPU bills. The eligibility requirements for this new program will allow more TPU customers to qualify for bill pay assistance than under the existing Bill Credit Assistance Plan (BCAP).
These actions are part of TPU's and the broader City's response on COVID-19 and accompany a series of existing or recently implemented TPU programs to assist our customers with bills, including:
- Payment plans may be extended to 12 weeks and late fees may be waived for residential and business customers
- Budget billing – making bills more predictable with a standard monthly bill amount based on the previous year’s use
- Payment assistance programs – for seniors, disabled and income-eligible customers
Please feel free to share this information and press release.
Thank you,
Christina Turner | Tacoma Public Utilities
Social Responsibility Manager | Public Affairs & Communications
W: (253) 502-8225 | C: (253) 306-0679
Tacoma Public Utilities provides services that are vital to our quality of life.