Payment Plans & Customer Assistance Programs Available
Desert Hot Springs, CA – After suspending disconnections the past two years due to the COVID pandemic, MSWD is announcing that it is time to resume the disconnection of past due accounts, beginning April 2022.
Historically, the District has made it a priority to provide customers with resources, options, and additional time to bring their accounts current. Customers who have past due balances are strongly encouraged to contact the District before March 31, 2022, to set up a payment plan and learn about available assistance programs.
“The last thing we want to do is discontinue anyone’s water service. Our goal is to help our customers through difficult times, and we ask that they contact us as soon as possible so that we can discuss options and get their accounts back on track,” said Board President Russ Martin.
To assist residential and commercial customers with past due balances related to COVID, the District applied for and received funds from the California Water and Wastewater Arrearage Payment Program to cover past-due drinking water balances that were accrued between March 4, 2020, and June 15, 2021.
These funds have been applied to individual customer accounts; however, some customers may still owe back payments depending upon their individual situation and payment history.
“While the state moratorium on shutoffs ended in December 2021, the District has chosen to extend the moratorium through March to allow customers extra time to sign up for a payment program or to enroll in a utility assistance program,” said Customer Service Manager April Scott.
MSWD payment plans are individually tailored to each customer’s needs and can be extended as much as 12-months. All customers with a past due balance can enroll in a payment program regardless of their income level.
In addition to this, MSWD has partnered with multiple community agencies to help customers. They include:
- Help2Others, administered through the United Way of the Desert, this fund specifically helps low-income customers pay their water bills.
- United Lift, a joint effort by Lift to Rise, Inland SoCal United Way, and the County of Riverside, the program provides utility and rent assistance.
- Community Action Partnership CARES Program, administers the federally-funded Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides utility payment assistance and weatherization services to low-income customers in Riverside County.
For additional resources or more information on any of the programs listed above, visit Bill Assistance or contact our office by calling 760-329-6448.
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