City provides funding to help people affected by COVID-19 pay residential utility bills

The City of Georgetown has nearly $1 million in funding available to help residential utility customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic pay their utility bills. Anyone who has lost their income since the start of this year may qualify for assistance.

The COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program offers up to $1,500 to residential utility customers who have past due balances in 2020 and can show their income or employment has been affected by the pandemic or any resulting restrictions, such as the stay home orders that were in effect. Financial assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis while funds last. As of July 31, the City has provided $3,800 to help a total of eight customers.

“COVID-19 continues to take its toll on our local economy and on our neighbors,” Mayor Dale Ross said. “We specifically wanted to get the funding to people who desperately need help but might not have other ways to get it. Please, if you need help paying your bills, reach out and apply. We want to help.”

City Council authorized the funding in May to provide assistance to customers affected by the pandemics who don’t qualify for other, low-income assistance programs. Only 10 percent of the COVID-19 Customer Assistance Program will go toward people who qualify for other assistance. Funding for the program comes from unanticipated income and special revenues in both our water and electric utilities.

The City partnered with Opportunities for Williamson and Burnet Counties to administer the program. OWBC manages several assistance programs throughout the area.

“As the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic has moved from a few weeks to many months, the need in our community is only increasing,” Director of Community Services Kori Ince said. “OWBC has additional funding and is ready to assist those in need. Please visit our website to apply.”

We are doing two waves of the program at $500,000 each. The first started June 1, and the second was released Aug. 1.

More information about the program and applications are available on OWBC’s website or by calling Customer Care at 512-930-3460.