Lawrenceville is offering $2 million worth of assistance to utility customers who are having trouble paying their gas and electric bills because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The assistance includes credit deposits, payment plans and a program that will pay for one monthly bill.
Th bill payment program, funded with $100,000 from The Salvation Army, covers the cost of one month’s utility bill in a 12-month period. To use the program, contact the Salvation Army at 770-724-1660 or email or call Lawrenceville’s customer service center at customerservice@lawrencevillega.org or 678-407-6675.
Utility customers can also spread bills and payments out over up to six months, if they have a financial need. To make arrangements to do so, contact the city at 678-407-6675 or customerservice@lawrencevillega.org.
And the city will refund a required deposit for utility service after one year of good payment instead of two, as was the norm. The deposit amount varies based on credit history for residential users, but city manager Chuck Warbington estimated it was between $100 and $800 for most customers. For commercial users, the deposit is based on the prior year’s highest utility consumption and ranges from $100 to $5,000. The money will be considered a utility payment credit and the city estimates that could release $2 million for residents to spend elsewhere.
The city said more than 3,200 business and residential customers would be affected.
“Our intention is to cover most of a bill,” Warbington said. “It’s something we feel is a big deal. Infusing $2 million, it could really help struggling folks these days.”
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