Low-income households may qualify for assistance in paying their water bills after historic winter storms swept across Oklahoma in late February.
As historic winter storms swept across Oklahoma in mid February, it left many Oklahomans facing higher than normal utility bills. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services recently announced that federal funding is available for water and wastewater systems to reduce arrearages of and rates charged to low-income households.
OKDHS has set up a virtual meeting set to be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 for water and wastewater systems to learn more about how they can become a participant and potentially receive federal funds. These federal funds will help those hit hardest by the winter storms and the global pandemic.
“This is an opportunity for water and wastewater systems, no matter their size, to help their community as we still feel the effects of the storms,” Oklahoma Rural Water Association, Deputy CEO, Jimmy Seago said. “The Oklahoma Strategic Alliance partners urge all water and wastewater systems to join the meeting on April 13 in order to learn more about how funds can be used and how to obtain said funds.”
The Oklahoma Strategic Alliance recently partnered with the Oklahoma Municipal League to pool resources and better serve all Oklahomans. OML Executive Director Mike Fina said, it’s critical for water and wastewater systems to assist their communities however possible.
“Oklahomans are still recovering from historic winter storms and it’s important that we focus our attention on the citizens hit hardest,” Fina said. “Municipalities can be the frontline of those efforts by utilizing resources available through federal programs. I encourage all municipalities to learn more about this program and how they can help their most vulnerable citizens.”
For questions about the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, please email OKenergyassistance@okdhs.org.
To submit questions in advance of the April 13 meeting, please email cpmacademies@ou.edu.
Zoom Meeting Details:
AFS Public Water Providers Presentation
Time: Apr 13, 2021 01:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
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— Written by JD Rosman
The Oklahoma Strategic Alliance was formed in 2019. Governor Kevin Stitt set forth a vision of an agreement committing the Office of the Oklahoma Secretary of Energy and Environment, Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality, Oklahoma Rural Water Association, and the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to work together to improve the sustainability of Oklahoma rural and small community water and wastewater systems. For more information on the Oklahoma Strategic Alliance contact okalliance@orwa.org.
