For households struggling to keep up with utility costs in California's desert communities, a larger water bill break is now available.
A one-time $300 credit is available to qualifying Desert Water Agency customers in Palm Springs and parts of Cathedral City — an amount MyNewsLA reported is enough to cover about two months of a typical household water bill.
What's happening?
Through its Help2Others program, Desert Water Agency is expanding bill assistance for qualifying customers, according to MyNewsLA.
The program is intended for low-income households and is designed to prevent shutoffs when water bills become unaffordable.
Under the updated program, eligible customers can receive one $300 credit over a 12-month period, up from the previous $200 benefit.
MyNewsLA reported that the agency's board approved the increase at a June 16 meeting, and the new amount took effect July 1.
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Agency officials estimated that the full credit would cover about two months on a typical residential bill.
In a statement, Desert Water Agency Board President Kristin Bloomer addressed the larger credit.
"At Desert Water Agency, we understand that our customers may face hardships that make paying their bills difficult. We hope that by increasing the amount of assistance available through our Help2Others program, we can ease some of that burden," Bloomer commented.
Why does it matter?
Eligible households can cut their yearly water costs by $300.
Water shutoffs can quickly trigger broader financial and health challenges.
In desert communities, reliable access to water is especially important for everyday safety and well-being.
The agency also acknowledged a reality many customers are facing as overall costs continue to rise: Bills are becoming harder to manage.
Even when water use remains steady, higher rates and broader household inflation can put additional strain on low-income residents.
The higher credit gives qualifying customers more help staying current on their bills.
What's being done?
MyNewsLA reported that Help2Others operates in partnership with Inland SoCal Way and is supported by community donations and other resources.
That structure allows the program to direct aid to customers who need it most while helping reduce the risk of service interruptions.
Customers can find more about the program at Desert Water Agency's bill assistance page at dwa.org/bill-assistance, and MyNewsLA noted that the nonprofit utility serves Palm Springs and portions of Cathedral City.
"We understand that costs are rising all around us, including our own water rates," Desert Water Agency General Manager Esther Saenz said in a statement.
"For some of our customers, this can make paying their water bill an even bigger challenge when they are already struggling. We want them to know support is available."
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