Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot joined advocates, elected officials and members of the community to unveil the City’s new Utility Billing Relief program. Set to begin in 2020, this new initiative will bring relief to residents struggling to afford utility payments and will improve billing policies to help reduce the cost for qualifying residents and allow opportunities for homeowners in debt to pay that debt off in an affordable way. The Utility Billing Relief program will provide low-income residents of Chicago with a reduced rate on their water, sewer and water-sewer taxes without late payment penalties or debt collection activity, including water shut-offs. The amount of debt tied to water utility billing has seen a nearly 300 percent increase since 2011 with over $330 million of overall debt today. Beginning March 1, 2020, Chicagoans can start applying for the Utility Billing Relief program, which will require that applicants provide the same documentation as needed for LIHEAP. To get more information please visit www.chicago.gov/UBR, email utilitybillrelief@cedaorg.net, text WATERBILL to 313131 or call (312) 795-8946 and leave your name and number. The next fines and fees reforms are set to take effect on November 15 – to learn more about how to get on a payment plan, please visit http://www.chicago.gov/citystickerdebtrelief