The City Council voted 8-0 Tuesday to establish a charitable fund to assist San Diego residents who are struggling to pay their water and sewer bills — and fundraising got off to an unexpectedly quick start.
In the Help to Others Program — or H2O — customers of the city’s Public Utilities Department will find a line item on their bills in which they can donate to help low-income residents. A donation option will also be made available on the department’s bill-paying website.
PUD staff estimated that if state and national trends hold up in San Diego, around 7,500 to 10,000 customers would benefit from the proceeds. Their eligibility would likely be determined by whether they’re enrolled in other assistance programs, such as one offered by San Diego Gas & Electric.
Around 530 delinquent bills are referred to the city treasurer each month, according to staff.
“There’s a great need for a program like this,” Councilman David Alvarez said. “Water is a human right.”
He noted that the city has taken several other steps to help customers in need, such as courtesy extensions for bill deadlines, longer-term payment plans, one-time waivers of shut-off and restoration fees, and no longer shutting off water over holidays and weekends.
Staff conceded that they don’t know how much revenue the program will generate. They plan to begin informing customers through various means next month, and hope to have an estimate by December.
After the vote was taken, Wilson Kennedy, a PUD employee who helped develop the program, pledged a $500 donation. He told the council members that his single mother benefited from similar assistance when he was growing up.
Don Kelly, executive director of the Utility Consumer Action Network, stepped up to the podium and matched his contribution.
–City News Service