Water assistance program - creation - water assistance contribution

(1) (a) On and after September 7, 2021, a water utility doing business in Colorado may participate in a water assistance program created and managed by the organization to provide water utility bill payment assistance to low-income households. A water utility's voluntary participation in the water assistance program will provide a water utility customer with an opportunity to make an optional contribution on the customer's monthly or quarterly remittance device on the water utility billing statement. (b) (I) A water utility participating in the water assistance program shall provide the opportunity for its customers to donate the contribution described in subsection (1)(a) of this section in accordance with the check-off mechanism set forth in section 40-8.7-105 (2). (II) Section 40-8.7-105 (1), (3), (4), and (5) does not apply to a water utility's participation in the water assistance program. (2) A water utility may create its own water assistance program to meet its customers' water assistance needs. In determining eligibility for assistance, a water utility may adopt the criteria specified in section 40-3-106 (1)(d) or alternative criteria as determined by the water utility. (3) A water utility participating in the organization's water assistance program pursuant to subsection (1) of this section or creating its own water assistance program pursuant to subsection (2) of this section may seek reimbursement for any reasonable costs that it incurs in connection with the program, including initial costs of setting up the collection mechanism and reformatting its billing systems to solicit an optional contribution. (4) The organization shall use the money collected from each water utility pursuant to this section to help finance direct water utility bill payment assistance to low-income households served by that water utility.