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Council approves HomeServe agreement to offer optional water and sewer line protection plans to customers
Summary
Council authorized a five‑year HomeServe marketing and service agreement to sell optional water and sewer service‑line protection plans to Columbus Department of Public Utilities customers; plans cost $4.99–$12.49 per month and include a CARES fund for low‑income customers.
Columbus City Council approved a five‑year agreement allowing HomeServe (operating as Utility Service Partners DBA HomeServe) to market optional water and sewer service‑line protection plans to City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities customers.
Department staff said the program is voluntary and carries no fiscal cost to the city; customers who enroll pay between $4.99 and $12.49 per month depending on the plan. HomeServe will dispatch licensed local plumbers 24 hours a day to handle covered repairs. If a service line is determined to be lead or galvanized and cannot be repaired, HomeServe will replace the whole line. The company also maintains a CARES program in which a portion of customer payments may be set aside to assist low‑income customers with line replacement.
Department staff framed the program as a near‑term protection while the city implements its federally mandated lead service‑line replacement program (the department noted a federal replacement mandate by 2037). Staff said the service is intended to help homeowners cover urgent repairs in the interval before the city replaces all lead and galvanized laterals under its multi‑year replacement plan.
Outcome: Council adopted the ordinance by roll-call vote; the department characterized the program as enabling customers to avoid catastrophic out‑of‑pocket costs while the city’s replacement program advances.
Why it matters: homeowners and property owners are often responsible for the portion of the water line on private property; unexpected full‑line replacements can cost thousands. Council members urged residents to consider the optional program while the city pursues full replacements under the longer‑term utility plan.
Ending: Council approved the HomeServe agreement and declared it an emergency so the program can be implemented promptly; residents will be able to enroll and choose coverage levels directly with HomeServe.
