PWSA is a local leader in providing our customers with a variety of financial assistance options through our slate of Customer Assistance Programs. Led by our PGH2O Cares team – the education and outreach professionals who work directly with our most vulnerable customers – PWSA made great progress in this key area. 

In 2023, we enrolled our 7,000th customer in the Bill Discount program. We also maximized the federal Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) and, since January 2022, have helped customers claim more than $2.1 million in assistance to erase the debt of past-due bills. Finally, in September we launched an innovative pilot program to pay for plumbers to help income- qualified customers make repairs in their homes to save water and lower their bills. In the first four months of the pilot program, we assisted 47 customers, who on average reduced their monthly consumption by 33%. 

As part of our new, recently approved rate structure, we’re expanding eligibility and increasing benefits for our most vulnerable customers. 

Income eligibility for the Bill Discount Program increased from 150% of the federal poverty level to 200%, making this essential program available to even more customers. The current 50% volumetric discount for very low-income customers increased to 60%, and the monthly credit for those enrolled in the Arrearage Forgiveness Program increased from $30 to $40 provided customers make on-time payments. 

Customers will also benefit from an expansion of our Hardship Grant Program. It now includes two separate annual grants – one to be distributed to eligible drinking water customers and another to eligible wastewater (sewer) customers. Customers receiving both drinking water and wastewater services from us can benefit from both grants simultaneously. The maximum grant increased from $300 to $450 and is applied as a credit to your PWSA bill. 

For additional information about our Customer Assistance Programs, please visit www.pgh2o.com/CAP.