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Water affordability and alternatives to service disconnection
Author(s) -
Beecher Janice A.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1994.tb06261.x
Subject(s) - disconnection , payment , service (business) , business , finance , public economics , natural resource economics , economics , marketing , political science , law
Utilities are finding ways to continue service for ratepayers who have difficulty paying their water bills. Rising costs and rising water bills are inevitable. For customers, the problem of water affordability may result in increased arrearages, late payments, disconnection notices, and service terminations. Utilities, under increasing pressure to respond to affordability and disconnection problems, generally prefer assistance‐oriented programs in cooperation with social agencies over rate structure modifications. In this article the author reviews available options including financial counseling, arrearage forgiveness, payment discounts, income‐based payments, lifeline rates, targeted conservation, disconnection moratoria, and flow restriction.