Rate Assistance for Qualified PWD Customers Increased to $25 Per Month by Palmdale Water District Nov 5, 2024 Member Submitted News PALMDALE – Palmdale Water District (PWD) customers who qualify for the Rate Assistance Program (RAP) will now receive $25 off the monthly service fee beginning January 2025. The increase from $20 to $25 was approved by the Board of Directors last week. The program is open to eligible senior citizens ages 62 and older, veterans of any age, and low-income families who need assistance with their water bills. Qualifying RAP customers will receive a $25 credit towards the monthly service charge. RAP applications are being accepted until the program’s budgeted funds are exhausted. It is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Program participants must reapply annually. “We are pleased to announce that our Board approved increasing the maximum monthly assistance to $25,” said Customer Care Supervisor Tara Rosati. “We know that we have customers who need a little more help with their water bills. I encourage anyone who qualifies to apply soon because the spots will fill up quickly.” To apply for the RAP, customers must provide proof of income and be enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program with Southern California Edison or Southern California Gas Co. RAP applications can be completed online in English at https://bit.ly/ENGRAP24 and in Spanish at https://bit.ly/SPANRAP24. For more information or assistance, please call the Customer Care Department at 661-947-4111. PWD budgets $170,0000 from its non-operating revenues, such as proceeds from leasing District-owned property, to fund the program. The RAP was started in 2015 to help senior citizens with their water bills. It was later expanded to include veterans and low-income families. No revenues from ratepayers are used for the RAP. This year, the program is assisting about 700 customers. Although the $5 increase will drop the number of recipients to 560, the District expects to add more money to the program in 2025 when new funding is expected. Since 1918, the Palmdale Water District has provided high-quality water at a reasonable cost. We pride ourselves on providing great customer care; advocating for local water issues that help our residents; educating the community on water-use efficiency; and leading our region in researching and implementing emerging technologies that increase operational efficiency. For more information about PWD, visit www.palmdalewater.org. ###
