Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs to connect BWL residential customers

If you’re struggling to pay your bills, there’s help available. Over a dozen local community partners will host two Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs to connect BWL residential customers and greater Lansing residents behind on bills to financial relief and community resources available to assist during the pandemic.

The events are free, open to the public and no pre-registration is necessary. Masks will be required. The Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs will be held:

• Tuesday, Aug 31, 4-7pm, Gier Community Center, 2400 Hall St., Lansing

• Wednesday, Sept 1, 4-7pm, Alfreda Schmidt Community Center, 5825 Wise Rd., Lansing

“The worst part of my job is shutting off power or water to a customer when they’re struggling to pay their bills,” said BWL General Manager Dick Peffley. “Even though our shut-off process is resuming in September, we’re doing everything we can to help our customers connect to information and financial relief available to them to avoid losing their service.”

Participants are recommended but not required to bring:

• Driver's license

• Social Security card

• Landlord's email address (if a renter)

• Copy of mortgage/lease

• Copy of late utilities

• Proof of current income

Until the pandemic, an average month of past due balances at BWL was around $1 million, and that’s since grown to over $11 million during COVID-19. Over the last two years, the BWL has only done shut-offs for three of those months, and voluntarily extended the shut-off moratorium for five months beyond the State of Michigan’s requirements. BWL utility shut-offs due to non-pay will begin again Tuesday, September 7.

For more information about the Financial Pandemic Relief Fairs and resources available, visit www.lbwl.com/shutoffprotection.