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ECUA Won't Discontinue Service For Unpaid Accounts

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If you can’t pay your water bill, ECUA won’t discontinue your service.

Effective immediately, the utilities company is suspending the discontinuation of services for non-payment during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

ECUA is following the lead of other companies around the country who have made similar decisions. ECUA Board Member Lois Benson said she expects the coronavirus crisis to affect everyone in some way.

“In times of a healthcare crisis, you’ve got to have clean water and sewer,” she said. “And not just a healthcare situation, but our economy is in a freefall. Workers will be impacted long after the crisis.”

Benson said she hopes the news will relieve people of “one less worry” in their lives. Once the crisis calms down, the board will work on how customers can get caught up on payments, said Benson.

“I had a man call me this morning, his business was about to open for the season, but he won’t be able to open due to CDC regulations. His wife has breast cancer and he’s worried about paying medical bills. We don’t want people who are already struggling to worry (about water bills),” she added.

Additionally, ECUA, like other companies, has been looking at policies to keep employees safe. Tuesday’s ECUA Citizen’s Advisory Committee has been canceled and the board is looking at the possibility of teleconferencing for next week’s board meeting.

“I feel like we’re all behind the curve,” she said.