201 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Suite #1101
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-5173
www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
DATE: JANUARY 23, 2024
FROM: PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: ACCEPTANCE OF BILL REDUCTION FUNDS ADMINISTERED
THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR ADDITIONAL
WATER AND WASTEWATER COVID-19 PANDEMIC RELIEF
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): NO ITEM # 08
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Motion:
1) Accept additional funding administered through the State of California, of approximately $350,000, related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Relief for Utility Water and Wastewater customer arrearages for eligible past due residential and commercial water accounts between June 16, 2021 and December 31, 2022, or as modified by the State; and
2) Authorize and direct the Public Utilities General Manager, or designees, on behalf of the City of Anaheim (City) to make necessary adjustments to recover all applicable funds that comply with program guidelines, to apply bill credits to qualifying customer accounts, to execute any and all related documents, and take such actions as are necessary, required, or advisable to implement and administer the funds.
DISCUSSION:
At its meeting on December 20, 2023, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) recommended that the City Council approve these actions.
Over the past three years, due to impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of California has approved multiple programs to offset customer arrearages including electric, water, and wastewater services. Anaheim Public Utilities (APU) has applied $9.65 million in arrearage funding to approximately 23,000 customers to reduce their account balances.
The initial round of funding was approved by State Legislature for energy arrearages through Assembly Bill (AB) 135 and for water and wastewater arrearages through AB 148, and subsequently accepted by City Council on October 5, 2021. Specific to water and wastewater accounts, approximately $1.4 million has been applied to eligible past Acceptance of Bill Reduction Funds Administered through the State of California for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief January 23, 2024
due residential and commercial water accounts between March 4, 2020 and June 15, 2021.
In 2023, the State Water Resources Control Board instituted the California Extended Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program (Program), funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, which extends the COVID-19 Relief Period to December 31, 2022. Funds received as a result of the extended Program will be directly applied to eligible customer accounts that meet the criteria of the program. In order to qualify for funding, eligible arrearages must result from unpaid usage between June 16, 2021 and December 31, 2022. Eligible account holders will be notified of the Program parameters, bill credit amount, and offered assistance with any remaining balance through available payment plans and bill relief programs.
Both water and wastewater are included in the current Program due to available funding.
The Program does not apply to arrearages for other Anaheim utility bill components such as electric, solid waste, street sweeping, or paramedic services.
The following is a preliminary summary of customer accounts that are eligible for funding:
Category Number of Accounts Past Due Balance
Water 490 $246,060
Wastewater 2,206 $104,651
Potential Funding 2,696 $350,711
Throughout the pandemic, APU administered programs that assisted customers in financial distress. APU has attended numerous outreach events, as well as provided information through social media and bill inserts to educate customers on ways to lower their usage and access available bill assistance programs to help reduce past due balances.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
There is no budgetary impact. Availability of funding for arrearages is subject to State allocations and will be applied directly to qualifying customer accounts.
Respectfully submitted, Concurred by,
Dukku Lee Rudy Emami
Public Utilities General Manager Director of Public Works