American Water Works Association · 2002 · 13 citations · 2 references
Natural ResourcesUrban PlanningWater Resources ManagementWater PolicyWater Resource ManagementWater Resources PlanningUrban Utility PolicyUtilities ManagementUtility FinanceWater ManagementWater PricingWater Resource EconomicsAffordability Of Water ChargesAffordability PricingMunicipal Water SystemsUrban Water Utility EconomicsUtility AffordabilityWater AssistanceWater FinanceWater Service Affordability
As water rates increase, in many cases faster than the public's ability to pay, greater numbers of water utility customers may experience difficulty paying their water bills, even for basic levels of service. Fortunately, there are many ways that utility managers can address affordability issues, including assistance programs that benefit both customers and the water utility. This article discusses the experiences of the City of Portland, Oregon, with more than 15 years of helping its low‐income customers pay their bills on time and avoid shutoffs.
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