BPUB Offers Assistance Programs to Customers
The Brownsville Public Utilities Board (BPUB) offers several payment options and assistance programs to help customers who may be facing difficulties paying their bills.
BPUB, in partnership with Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST) and Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (CCRGV) has matched many customers with these assistance programs for several years to help customers in need. Since the pandemic, BPUB has assisted about 40,000 customers and provided more than $5 million in assistance through various programs.
Most recently, BPUB added the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) to help customers pay their water and wastewater bills. Congress created this program as part of a COVID-19 pandemic support package to assist households with high water bills. Customers can qualify up to $200 in assistance through LIHWAP and other similar programs.
BPUB also offers other assistance programs:
Project SHARE – Established in 1985, the Project SHARE Fund has assisted elderly, low-income households or customers experiencing financial hardship. During the pandemic, the program was expanded to assist more customers. Qualifying customers can receive up to $200 in assistance.
Elderly Low-Income Assistance Program (ELIAP) – ELIAP is designed to assist primarily elderly customers over the age of 62 who are low-income. Qualifying customers can receive up to $200 in assistance.
Comprehensive Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) – CEAP is designed to assist low-income households in need of assistance with their electric bill.
The applications, complete program requirements and restrictions are available on BPUB’s website in English and Spanish. Customers with questions regarding program guidelines may contact CACOST at 956-435-0379 or CCRGV at 956-541-0220.
Payment arrangements are also available. To set up a payment arrangement, customers can use the payment arrangement feature on BPUB’s website or call Customer Service at 956-983-6121 during regular work hours.
Customers can also save money on their bills by taking advantage of the GreenLiving BPUB Rebate Program, using the Energy Suite feature to learn where their energy dollars are going to, and by following BPUB’s electrical and water conservation tips.
For more information, customers may visit www.brownsville-pub.com, or follow BPUB on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/brownsvillepub or Twitter at https://twitter.com/BPUB_Tweets.