WES board approves plan to expand income-qualified bill discount, proposes 40% discount and PGE pilot

The Water Environment Services board on June 10 approved, by a 4-0 roll-call vote, a staff plan to expand the utility's income-qualified bill discount (IQBD) and directed staff to return with specific program elements for formal adoption.

Aaron Blue, finance manager for Water Environment Services, said the current IQBD is a 50% discount that applies only to the wastewater portion of customers' bills and currently enrolls about 650 households. "At less than 1% enrollment, we know the current program is underutilized," Blue said. He proposed several coordinated actions to expand access: a pilot partnership with PGE to reach renters and multifamily households (projected to add about 800 households), amendments to intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with city partners so eligible customers receive the WES discount, and extending the discount to the surface-water portion of bills for directly built customers (projected to add roughly 60 accounts).

To fund expansion while limiting rate impacts, staff proposed capping rate-funded support at 0.5% of budgeted rate revenues (about $280,000) and using non-rate revenues (primarily late fees) to supply another ~$150,000, for total program funding near $430,000 annually. Recognizing demand will likely exceed available funding, Blue recommended reducing the discount from 50% to 40% so the program can serve approximately 1,600 households in total. Staff said implementing the 40% discount for city partners would be phased in for some cities in July 2027 to allow time for outreach.

Blue also proposed allowing participating cities to use a limited portion of "Good Neighbor" contributions (the $1-per-unit fund associated with treatment facilities) for wastewater bill assistance if cities opt in, capped at 10% of annual contributions or $10,000 (whichever is greater), which staff estimated could yield about $44,000 annually for participating cities.

Director Helm moved to approve the plan for implementation and to direct staff to return with program elements for adoption; Director Shrader seconded. The clerk called the roll and Directors Savas, Shrader, Helm and Chair Roberts voted yes; the motion passed 4-0. Staff said the PGE pilot is in final legal review and that staff will return by late July with the pilot agreement and in ensuing months with IGA amendments, rules updates, and a resolution to set the IQBD percentage and funding levels.

Staff stressed these actions do not yet change customer bills; the board's approval directs staff to develop the program elements and return for formal adoption and implementation decisions.