District Helps Customers Struggling to Pay Water Bills
Alternative arrangements, financial help available to avoid service shutoff
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Nisha Wade
(360) 481-0391
nisha@cvstrat.com
March 15, 2022
District Helps Customers Struggling to Pay Water Bills
Alternative arrangements, financial help available to avoid service shutoff
Beaumont, CA – Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District (BCVWD) customers with past due accounts are encouraged to contact the District to set up a payment plan and learn about other assistance programs that may be available to them.
“We understand how hard it can be to keep up with bills, especially after the financial impacts of COVID-19,” said Director John Covington, on behalf of the Board of Directors. “BCVWD cares about its customers and is here to help.”
All customers with an overdue balance can inquire about a payment plan, regardless of income level. Customers with past due bills should contact Customer Service at 951-845-9581 or info@bcvwd.org immediately to discuss options.
At the onset of the pandemic in 2020, BCVWD, like other water agencies, suspended water shutoffs due to nonpayment in accordance with an executive order issued by Governor Gavin Newsom. The state ended the moratorium on December 31, 2021, and water shutoffs for nonpayment of past due balances are now resuming across California.
BCVWD extended the water shutoff moratorium through February 2022 and returned to its regular policies related to nonpayment as of March 1, 2022. The District offers alternative payment arrangements tailored to each customer’s needs, depending on service type and average amount of water used.
Help is also available through local programs such as United Lift, a rent and utility relief assistance program for Riverside County. To learn more about United Lift, visit unitedlift.org. In addition to discussing payment plans, BCVWD is available to help customers determine programs for which they could qualify.
“Our goal is to assist people through difficult times and allow them to keep their water running. BCVWD does not want to shut off water for any of our customers,” added Covington. “We urge anyone experiencing hardship to contact us as soon as possible.”
In the event an account remains overdue, BCVWD will notify the customer at least five days in advance before shutting off service. The process includes two written notices and one phone notice at least 10 days before disconnection, as well as a final phone notice three to five days before shutting off service. For more information on BCVWD’s water shut off policies, go to bcvwd.org/documents/sb-998.
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Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District was formed in 1919 and is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors. BCVWD is an independent special district that provides water service to 55,000 customers in a 28-square-mile service area
Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District
560 Magnolia Avenue, Beaumont, CA 92223
www.bcvwd.org
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