Utility provides assistance for needy seniors

Sun City residents looking to save money in a difficult economic environment have no shortage of areas to choose from. They could buy generic brands at the grocery store. They can eat out less. They can drive less, or put off vacations. One area they have little to no control over, however, is the monthly bills. They can cut down on usage, but that will only get you so far. Arizona American Water launched the low income payment program a year ago today in an effort to help their customers deal with that problem.
"Many of us here, including myself, have family in Sun City who are dealing with the challenges of budgeting on a fixed income," said Paul Townsley, president of Arizona American Water. "I want to make sure seniors that are eligible for this program know about it and take advantage of it. Summer is the month we all use the most water and it is an especially good time to implement something that might help those in need financially."
The program is available to seniors age 65 and older, who can receive rate reductions of as much as 75 percent of a customer's monthly service charge. To qualify, they must earn less than $14,000 a year for a two-person household or less than $10,400 for an individual.
Customers who believe that they qualify can call Arizona American Water at 1-800-383-0834 to enroll. They can also stop by the local Arizona American office at 15626 N. Del Webb Blvd.