In a press release this morning, Governor Kim Reynolds announced that the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) is launching a new Residential Utility Disruption Prevention Program for households affected by COVID-19.
The program will provide eligible households with up to $2,000 towards electric, natural gas and water bills if they are at risk of disconnection due to an inability to pay due to a COVID-19 related loss of income. Payments through the program will be made directly to utility providers and applied to the applicant’s account.
To be eligible to receive assistance, a residential electric, natural gas and/or water utility customer must have:
-A primary Iowa residence with active residential utility accounts OR rental unit where utility account is in the applicant’s name.
-An unpaid utility bill balance or have previously entered into a payment plan with their utility provider.
-An annual income that is 80% of the median family income, based on county and household size (read this document for income restrictions).
-Have experienced a COVID-19 loss of income (job loss, reduction in hours, reduction in pay) on or after March 17, 2020 that resulted in hardship in paying bills for electric, natural gas, and/or water utility service provided between March 17, 2020 and October 31, 2020.
Applications are being accepted from now until November 20, 2020 or until funds have been exhausted.
Visit the link below to learn more about this program and how to apply: