Lakehavens' Delinquent Account Payment Plan

July 23, 2020

In order to provide District customers with reasonable opportunities to cure delinquent accounts that have arisen out of the economic hardships caused by the Covid- 19 Emergency, it is necessary that the District establish measures to provide financial relief from delinquent water and/or sewer bills. Accordingly, the following measures will be implemented, effective August 1, 2020, regarding all delinquent accounts:  View the complete Resolution 2020-1339(PDF). 

If you fall in this category please submit an agreement form; Print, complete, and email the Delinquent Account Payment Plan Agreement Form (PDF)  to Lakehaven@Lakehaven.org.

1. No water service shall be terminated for lack of payment through December 31, 2020.
2. No penalties or interest shall be added to delinquent balances through December 31, 2020.
3. Delinquent Account Balance - $200 to <$400 - Six (6) months to pay arrearage with no interest charged on remaining balance.
4. Delinquent Account Balance - $400 to $600 - Nine (9) months to pay arrearage with no interest on remaining balance.
5. Delinquent Account Balance - >$600 - One (1) year to pay arrearage with no interest on remaining balance.
6. A payment plan entered into during the pendency of the Governor’s suspension of the authority to terminate service shall be deemed an Interim Payment Plan.
7. Customers on Interim Payment Plans will be required to pay at least 50% of current bills accrued during the period up until the Governor ends the restrictions.
8. Customers requesting Interim Payment Plans will be asked to sign a payment plan agreement that will outline the terms of the payment plan. On property occupied by a tenant, payment plans may be signed by the tenant, with a copy provided to the property owner along with notice that all charges for water and sewer service shall remain with the property.
9. Unless circumstances require otherwise, Interim Payment Plans shall require the customer to make level payments during the repayment period sufficient to pay the entire balance within the duration of the payment plan. When restrictions on termination of service and applying penalties on delinquent accounts are lifted, customers remaining current on payments under the Interim Payment Plan and who pay at least 50% of bills that accrue up to the lifting of the restrictions, will be eligible to enter a new payment plan, referred to as the Final Payment Plan, for all amounts then delinquent. The length of the Final Payment Plan will be based on the schedules set forth in Sections 1-4 above. No interest shall accrue as long as payments remain current.
10. Customers who do not remain current on the Interim Payment Plan payments, including payments on current bills, will be required to pay the entire balance within 90 days of the date the Governor’s restrictions on service terminations expire. Interest and penalties will thereafter apply and service may be terminated.
11. Customers with delinquencies meeting the minimum threshold, shall enter into an Interim Payment Plan within sixty (60) days from the date notice of their eligibility to enter into an Interim Payment Plan is sent. Customers who fail or refuse to enter into an Interim Payment Plan by such date will be required to pay the full amount of the delinquent balance within one month of the date the Governor’s restriction on service termination expires and interest and penalties shall thereafter accrue at the rate established under District resolution. Such accounts shall be subject to regular collection processes, including termination of service.
12. Customers with delinquent balances below the minimum threshold for an Interim Payment Plan will be permitted to pay the delinquent balance, with no interest, in installments of no less than one-fourth of the current delinquent balance each month. Customers shall also pay no less than 50% of the current bill. At such time as the Governor’s restrictions on service termination expire, customers meeting these requirements will have 180 days to pay the remaining balance, which balance shall not accrue interest. Customers who do not meet these requirements will be required to pay the full amount of the delinquent balance within one month of the date the Governor’s restriction on service termination expires and interest and penalties shall thereafter accrue at the rate established under District resolution. Such accounts shall be subject to regular collection processes, including termination of service.

Utility Ratepayer Assistance and Preservation of Essential Services

Governor Inslee has issued Proclamation 20-23, pertaining to Utility Ratepayer Assistance and Preservation of Essential Services. The Lakehaven Water and Sewer District is committed to keeping our customers connected to essential services during the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. If you are experiencing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be eligible for support, including long-term payment arrangements or bill assistance. This Proclamation does not relieve customers from the obligation to pay for utility services.

The Utilities and Transportation Commission serves as the single point of contact within state government for customers seeking bill assistance information.: Utilities and Transportation Commission Consumer Hotline: 1-888-333-WUTC (9882) or consumer@utc.wa.gov.

Water System Restoration

May 5, 2020

Flushing your water system now is important for homes and businesses that have been closed, or significantly reduced their water use, under Washington’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order.

Corrosion particulates in the plumbing can accumulate, and chlorine residuals normally in the water to provide disinfection may have dissipated, which can cause bacteriological growth. Flushing removes the particulates and refreshes the water in the pipes with clean, chlorinated water from our distribution system.

Here are some steps to take to prepare your home and business water pipes after periods of low flow or no-flow conditions.

Disaster Cash Assistance Program Available at DSHS

News Release Date: April 17, 2020 

OLYMPIA – Beginning Friday, April 17, some Washington residents can apply through the Department of Social and Health Services for emergency cash assistance to help meet their immediate needs. As a result of Governor Inslee’s emergency declaration in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has approved implementing the Disaster Cash Assistance Program, or DCAP, in Washington state.

The Governor’s declaration of a statewide emergency and subsequent proclamation on March 18 enables DSHS to offer DCAP benefits to people who are not eligible for other cash assistance programs. The assistance is available to all Washington families and people without children who meet the income and resource limits of the program. DSHS estimates more than 175,000 households may be eligible for this assistance.

“Having access to this emergency aid is critically important to helping people meet their immediate, basic needs, like shelter costs, utilities, clothing, minor medical care, household supplies and transportation costs for work,” explained Babs Roberts, director of DSHS’ Community Services Division. “We’re pleased Governor Inslee made these funds available so that we can extend the benefits to Washingtonians who are most in need during this unprecedented time.”

This cash assistance is available to Washington residents regardless of citizenship status, and does not require applicants to provide a Social Security number. Eligible households will receive their DCAP benefits for one month in a 12-month period during an emergency. The benefit amount depends on household size, income and need, ranging from a maximum of $363 for a single person to a maximum of $1,121 for a household of eight or more people. Once approved, people will receive their DCAP benefits on an existing Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, card or a new EBT card will be sent via U.S. Mail.

People can apply for DCAP online at WashingtonConnection.org and then call the Customer Service Contact Center at 877-501-2233 to complete the required interview. People can also call 877-501-2233 to complete the entire application process over the phone. Due to much higher than normal call volumes, people are asked to call before 11 a.m. and to keep in mind that the busiest call times are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For the latest COVID-19 benefits-related information, check the DSHS website, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

This news release is also available in Spanish.