Press Release

PUC Calls for 2024 Funding for Water and Wastewater Assistance and Creation of a Permanent National Program

Published on 1/8/2024

Filed under: Water and Wastewater

Commissioners Urge Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation to Support Funding for the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program for Fiscal Year 2024 and Beyond

HARRISBURG – Noting that urgent action is needed to help the most vulnerable citizens in communities across the Commonwealth, members of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) are urging members of Congress to support funding for a permanent program that provides financial assistance for water and wastewater services.

“Water is an essential utility service for which there is no substitute. Communities across Pennsylvania rely on water systems to provide safe drinking water, nourish our families, run our homes and businesses, and protect public health,” noted all five PUC commissioners in a recent letter to Pennsylvania’s congressional delegation.

The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) is the first-ever federal program created to exclusively assist low-income families with their water and wastewater bills.

More than 52,000 LIHWAP grants have provided nearly $44 million in assistance to Pennsylvania families since the program was created in 2021 in response to financial challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic unveiled the lack of financial resources and aid available to populations of low-income water and wastewater customers.  However, despite the established need and success of the program, there is no funding for LIHWAP included in congressional appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024.

The PUC letter urges support for LIHWAP funding in the 2024 fiscal year, along with a mechanism to permanently fund a program like LIHWAP for water and wastewater customers.

“LIHWAP has proven to be a successful program in getting assistance to those who need it the most,” the PUC letter stressed. “If the LIHWAP program lapses, there is no question that many will suffer.”

About the PUC

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov