Vermont Business Magazine The Department of Public Service announces that customers of an expanded list of water and wastewater providers can now get help with past due bills through the Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program. Deputy Commissioner Allen says that, “The VCAAP has expanded to include non-regulated water and sewer/wastewater charges from municipal water and sewer/wastewater departments, community water systems, fire districts and other agencies that provide water and sewer/wastewater services to consumers.”
This program is available for Vermonter’s primary homes and Vermont-based small businesses.
“The pandemic has been ruthless in visiting economic hardship on so many Vermonters who have lost income and are struggling to keep up with their basic expenses,” said Department of Public Service Commissioner June Tierney.
“Thankfully, Vermont has been able to make these grants available using federal CARES Act money to provide some relief,” Tierney continued, “but the time to apply is getting short and folks need to act soon. All water and wastewater systems in Vermont also now have access to the program.”
Consumers may apply to the VCAAP for utility bill including water and sewer/wastewater charges that, if left unpaid, may result in a disconnection of services. To date, more than seven thousand applicants have received benefits under VCAAP but only a handful were for customers of regulated private water companies.
The addition of water and sewer/wastewater charges to the VCAAP will go a long way to help consumers financially burdened by COVID-19 maintain necessary services they might otherwise lose because of their inability to pay.
For more information about the VCAAP, please visit the Department’s Vermont COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program webpage at publicservice.vermont.gov, or contact the Department of Public Service at [email protected]; at 1-800-622-4496; or online at https://capi.epsd.vermont.gov/?q=node/51.
Source: Montpelier, VT – Vermont Department of Public Service 11.18.2020