San Francisco, CA–The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved a multi-family discount pilot program for income-qualified customers of California-American Water Company (Cal-Am) living in disadvantaged communities.
In a prior decision, the CPUC directed Cal-Am to outline a pilot program that provides a discount to water users in low-income multi-family housing. Cal-Am’s pilot program approved on June 2 will deliver benefits to low-income renters in multi-family buildings that do not pay a water bill directly.
The pilot program will offer discounts to water users in low-income multi-family housing in Cal-Am’s San Diego service area with the first component. The pilot’s other component will also expand Cal-Am’s existing water energy retrofit programs to include multi-family buildings and mobile home parks across Cal-Am’s service areas. The program will not exceed $250,000 for the first component and $200,000 for the other component for the entirety of the pilot.
“These programs offer creative solutions for people who aren’t charged directly for utility services through individual financial assistance and opportunities to install more efficient appliances and fixtures,” said CPUC President Alice Reynolds.
The CPUC is addressing the affordability of water services and rate assistance programs for low-income customers of investor-owned water utilities in Rulemaking 17-06-024. Some populations in California, such as those living in multi-family housing situations, are unable to take advantage of the CPUC’s consumer assistance programs. The decision creates a pathway to provide affordable water service to those communities.