Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis) Assembly Bill 1434 to help low-income Californians with their water bills will be heard in Utilities and Commerce on Monday, April 21, 2014 at 3 p.m. at the State Capitol, Room 437.
Since 2012, California established that safe, clean and affordable water is every human being’s right. While AB 685 (Eng) requires the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to consider low-income rate relief programs, it is not required by statute to implement these programs.
Moreover, they have no authority over utilities that qualify as public agencies which are the vast majority of water service providers in the state.
“This is a bill of livelihood that seeks to help about three quarters of Californians in rural areas, where the majority of smaller utility companies could not or choose not to provide them with assistance.” Yamada stated. The right to water is a necessity and we must ensure its affordability.”
AB 1434 would direct the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD) in conjunction with the Board of Equalization (BOE) to develop and implement a statewide Low-Income Water Rate Assistance Program for low-income ratepayers.
Low-income Californians need a statewide program to receive their assistance in order to overcome the problems individual water service providers have in operating a low-income assistance program.
AB 1434 creates a functional collaboration for CSD and the BOE to create these programs and manage the fund that will help millions of Californians with their water bills.
For more information about supporting AB 1434 in the hearing, please contact Arturo Salaices, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .