Temporary Utility Assistance
Temporary Utility Assistance Program
The Temporary Utility Assistance Program was established to provide individuals and families in need temporary assistance with paying their City of Lake Oswego utility bill. For purpose of the Temporary Utility Payment Assistance Program, utilities include: water, sanitary sewer, surface water, and street maintenance.
Funding for this voluntary, tax-deductible program will come from donations and will be administered by a non-profit (“Administrator”) selected by the City. All donations will be placed into a fund used exclusively for emergency utility assistance. Donations are tax-deductible under section 170(c)(1). To launch the program, the City contributed $20,000 to the fund.
Donations can be made by anyone wishing to contribute.
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be eligible to receive financial assistance, an individual or family utility customer ("Customer") must meet the following minimum qualifications, in addition to any further eligibility requirements established by City:
- Only customer accounts in the name of individual(s) or a family trust where the testators are residents in the dwelling are eligible; LLCs, LLPs, incorporated entities, and the like are not eligible.
- The utility service address must be within the City of Lake Oswego, or the portions of unincorporated Clackamas County served by the City.
- The utility service is to a single family dwelling or accessory dwelling unit, the customer resides at the dwelling, and the utility account is in the name of the occupant of the dwelling.
- Customer must show emergency financial need, such as loss of income or unexpected and unusual necessary expense combined with lack of resources to satisfy the need.
Program Restrictions
Customers receiving assistance through the program must comply with the following requirements:
- The maximum amount of assistance per Customer is limited to $200.00 per month; the Administrator may establish a lower maximum amount if the Administrator deems it beneficial to the Program in order to expand the numbers of customers receiving some financial assistance.
- Customer may not receive program assistance for more than two months within a rolling 12-month period.
- Assistance is limited to the availability of funds.
Request Funds
If you meet the eligibility requirements listed above, please contact the City’s Finance (Utility Billing) Department:
Phone: 503-635-0265
Email: utility@lakeoswego.city
In addition to assisting Lake Oswego utility customers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, once established, the Temporary Utility Payment Assistance Program would continue to provide temporary utility payment assistance as needed.
Other Assistance
Phone / Broadband / Data Programs
Oregon Lifeline is a federal and state government program that reduces the monthly cost of phone or broadband service for qualifying low-income Oregon households. If you qualify, you could get one of the following benefits of the program with a participating service provider in your area:
- Receive a discount on your phone bill of $10.75 per month;
- Receive a discount on your broadband bill of up to $12.75 per month; or
- Receive free cell phone and data service
Federal and state regulations limit the Lifeline benefit to one person per household for phone or broadband service.
Water Bills
The City recognizes that many families are impacted financially at this time. Therefore, while this emergency is in place, the City will not send shut-off notices or shut off water for non-payment of unpaid water bills.
Garbage and Recycling Collection
Effective April 3, 2020, all Clackamas County franchised garbage and recycling companies will continue curbside collection for all residential customers, including rentals, even if the customer has a past due balance.
The following utilities are also offering service disconnect or bill assistance:
Many major gas, power and internet companies have similar policies of no shutdowns due to non-payment during the crisis: www.myoregon.gov/2020/03/13/oregon-utilities-companies-extend-service-during-covid-outbreak/