Sorensen said that although customers can defer all payments until September, she encourages them to think about the long-term impacts. Some of them have already been deployed to delinquent households, but the city will remove the devices if the customer agrees to a payment plan. Sorensen said the city began developing the low-flow devices to use during the summer months when shutting off water could be dangerous.
CITY OF PHOENIX WATER SERVICES ONLINE PAYMENT FULL
Water Services Director Kathryn Sorensen told the Phoenix City Council that her department would begin arranging payment plans with delinquent customers now, and allow them to defer the start of their payment plan until September, when the brunt of the summer heat subsides.Ĭustomers who agree to a payment plan will receive full water service until September, and will continue to receive full service at that point so long as they adhere to their payment plan.Ĭustomers who can't be reached or don't agree to a payment plan will be put on a low-flow plan that will allow them enough water for basic sanitation and cooking. Phoenix reconnected all disconnected water lines and suspended future shut-offs on March 12. He said the city will offer customers who are unable to pay their bills in full "flexible solutions," including extended payment plans and waived late fees.Ĭustomers experiencing difficulties in paying can contact the city at 48. That's about 100 more delinquent accounts than the same time last year, Hafen said. On March 15, when the city announced it would halt shut-offs, there were 5,005 delinquent accounts, 180 of which received disconnect notices.Īs of March 31, there were 5,304 delinquent accounts and 424 accounts that would have been subject to disconnection of water service. AvondaleĬhandler has suspended water disconnects because of COVID-19, but the city is still encouraging customers to continue making full or partial payments to prevent massive bills later on.Ĭhandler considers a customer delinquent after nonpayment of two bills, but does not send a disconnect notice until the outstanding balance totals $400 or more, Chandler Utility Services Manager Jason Hafen said. Here's how each city is preparing to recoup funds, while still trying to lessen the burden on customers who are facing job losses and other harsh economic realities brought on by COVID-19.
The cities stand to lose tens of millions of dollars in revenue needed to assure Phoenix-area residents continue to have clean drinking water. Many cities are trying to level with customers by working out payment plans now so they don't get sticker shock later, while at the same time trying to assure they do eventually get paid. That could mean struggling residents would have to come up with $500 or more in back payments on water later this year. And someday, the city will ask them to pay up. The top recommendation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to slow the spread of the coronavirus is hand washing, which can't be done if water stops flowing to households.īut cities aren't providing water to delinquent customers for free - their bills are still accumulating. It's a public health necessity, city leader say. Almost all Phoenix-area cities have decided not to shut off water service during the COVID-19 pandemic, even if customers aren't paying their bills.
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