08-24-2020 BPU RPT 05 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

W A T E R E N E R G Y L I F E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES • ' Board Memorandum P U B L I C U T I L I T I E S BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: AUGUST 24 ,2020 ITEM NO: SUBJECT: INCREASE EMERGENCY RESPONSE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CUSTOMER CREDIT FROM $250 TO $400 AND RESTART UTILITY BILL REPAYMENT PROGRAM AND ASSOCIATED AGREEMENTS TO PROVIDE BILL REPAYMENT DEFERAL FOR CUSTOMERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO PAY THEIR RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES BILLS DUE TO ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC ISSUES: Recommend that the City Council approve an increase the Emergency Response Assistance Program customer credit from $250 to $400 and approve the Restart Utility Bill Repayment Program and associated agreements to provide bill repayment deferral for customers who were unable to pay their Riverside Public Utilities bills due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. RECOMMENDATIONS: That the Board of Public Utilities recommend that the City Council: Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to increase the COVID-19 Emergency Recovery Assistance Program customer credit from $250 to $400 for low income residential electric customers that have been adversely financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as outlined in this report; 2. Approve the Restart Utility Bill Repayment Program and Agreements for customers of the Riverside Public Utilities Department; 3. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to implement the COVID-19 Restart Utility Bill Repayment Program for customers that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; and 4. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the standard form Restart Agreement for commercial customers and standard form Restart Agreement Letter for residential customers.