CFPUA clarifies ‘elderly and disabled’ credit

The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority provides water and wastewater services; customers are billed for these services every two months. For a portion of our customers, CFPUA bills also include City of Wilmington stormwater and trash services and until September 2009, an ‘elderly and disabled’ credit was provided and funded by the City of Wilmington. In 2009, Wilmington discontinued this credit and a letter from CFPUA notifying our affected customers of the approaching change stated, “Your account billed by the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority previously reflected a credit issued to you on behalf of the City of Wilmington. As of September 1, 2009, Wilmington will no longer be providing those credits.” CFPUA, while able to represent those credits in billing (it had been successfully included in CFPUA bills for the year prior), cannot provide or fund a credit program. In accordance with the NC General Statute governing CFPUA, the Authority cannot offer rates or services to any particular group or class of customer inconsistent with those applying to all customers. To comply with nondiscrimination requirements, CFPUA must charge all customers the same rates regardless of age, race, disability, or income. However, CFPUA can represent credits funded and issued by the City of Wilmington or New Hanover County, and is currently working with the United Way and other agencies to investigate additional assistance options.

Tune in to the New Hanover County Commissioners meeting on April 19th and Wilmington City Council on April 20th for our quarterly update as CFPUA representatives provide additional information regarding rates, projects, bonds, and more.

INFORMATION FROM A NEWS RELEASE SENT TO THE WWAY NEWSCHANNEL 3 NEWSROOM…