Veolia has launched New York’s first Water Affordability Program, aimed at providing low-income water utility customers with a monthly bill discount. This discount will be applied to the meter facility charge, which can account for up to 25% of a customer’s monthly bill.
Customers who have previously received assistance through the state’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) will automatically be enrolled in the new program until the company’s annual recertification. Additionally, customers are eligible if they have participated in another utility affordability program or received assistance from any of the following government programs in the last 12 months:
- Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
- Federal Lifeline program
- Federal Public Housing Assistance
- Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) benefit
- Medicaid
- Safety Net Assistance
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
- Temporary Assistance to Needy Persons/Families
- Tribal Head Start
- Tribal Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
- Veterans Pension and Survivors Benefit programs
Qualifying customers will not only receive a monthly bill discount but also a one-time waiver of the reconnection fee each year if their service is shut off due to non-payment. Furthermore, they will get double the Veolia rebate amount when purchasing certain water-saving appliances.
This program is administered by NJ SHARES. Eligible customers can enroll by contacting NJ SHARES at apply.njsharesgreen.org, info@njshares.org, or (866) 657-4273, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Customers must reapply annually to continue receiving benefits.
Additional Assistance Programs by Veolia
To further support customers in managing their bills, Veolia offers additional programs:
- Veolia Cares: Provides a bill credit to qualifying customers once a year.
- PromisePay: Allows customers to establish customized payment plans to pay down high outstanding balances.
- Budget Billing: Helps customers spread water consumption charges evenly throughout the year.
For more information on participating in these programs, customers are encouraged to contact their local Customer Service department.
PromisePay Partnership
Veolia has authorized PromisePay to offer flexible payment plans to help customers with past-due balances. PromisePay provides an online service that offers convenient, no-fee payment plans, making it easy to sign up and manage a plan that works for the customer. This service aims to help customers avoid negative financial consequences and eliminate debt. To learn more and enroll, visit veolia.promise-pay.com.