Utility disconnections, late fees to resume
With the pause on late fees and disconnections coming to an end Tuesday, Brownsville Public Utilities Board officials are encouraging customers with past-due balances to arrange a payment plan or apply for financial assistance.
In an interview with The Rider last Wednesday, Cleiri Quezada, BPUB lead communications and public relations coordinator, said the utilities board is a nonprofit organization and that the lack of payment from customers affects day-to-day operations.
The Rider asked Quezada for details about the financial impact the pause had on BPUB. She replied that answering that question would take time.
“All of our funding goes straight back into the community and into restoration projects and into restoring equipment and, basically, into operations in general,” Quezada said. “You know, for example, the project that we have on Boca Chica right now, where we’re installing a waterline underground–that waterline is essential to the community.”
In a Feb. 15 news release, Marilyn Gilbert, BPUB’s newly appointed general manager and chief executive officer, said the board offers “multiple payment options and assistance programs to help customers manage their bills.”
Quezada detailed the programs, such as the Elderly Low Income Assistance Program, which is administered and qualified by one of two organizations: Community Action Corporation of South Texas and Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley.
Customers can access applications in both English and Spanish on the utilities board website, or call CACOST at 435-0379.
“They do have some … requirements and the person needs to prove that … they’re in need,” Quezada said. “They might have lost their job. They’re probably unemployed or underemployed. They’re probably elderly, 62 years of age or older, low income. They perhaps may be experiencing high medical expenses, funeral expenses, and things like that.”
Other state programs include the Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program, which assists low income households with electric bills only; the Low Income Water Assistance Program; and Texas Utility Help, which helps homeowners and renters with electricity, gas, propane, water and wastewater bills.
Quezada said if people do not qualify for any of these programs, there is another option.
“Because these are state funds, [they] are going to ask you for proof of residency,” she said. “If you cannot prove residency … we do have Project Share. BPUB has Project Share. This one acts, basically, as a safety net for all of our customers. We do not require that the applicant is a U.S. citizen.”
Customers with outstanding bills received a letter Feb. 9 giving them a 20-day grace period to contact BPUB about programs and payment plans, according to Quezada.
“They need to contact us sooner rather than later so that we can work with them and perhaps guide them through the assistance programs application or make a payment process or payment plan for them,” she said.
Quezada reminds customers to regularly check their account balance and make payments on time to avoid disconnection. To access account information, pay bills and sign up for payment plans online, visit brownsville-pub.com or download the BPUB app on a mobile device.
To learn more about Texas Utility Help, visit texasutilityhelp.com.
