While the COVID pandemic has hit everyone hard, in a variety of ways, but some of our neighbors have lost their jobs, or taking a huge hit in their income in other ways. For those struggling, the City of Seattle has resources for help with electric and utility bills.
Eligible households can enroll in the City of Seattle’s Utility Discount Program (UDP.) Eligible households have a pre-tax income at or below 70% of the state’s median income – in 2021, a four-person household may earn up to $5,996 per month or have an annual income of $71,952 before taxes or other deductions.
The UDP can offer eligible households a 60% discount on Seattle City Light bills and a 50% discount on their Seattle Public Utilities bill. Enrollment can be done on-line (click here,) in English. Those who need language support can talk to a UDP representative. Applications will be reviewed and processed, and if the application meets eligibility requirements, the applicant household will be enrolled. The discount will be applied to future bills.
If you have questions about UDP enrollment, contact a representative at UDP@Seattle.gov, including if you need interpretive assistance. You can find more information, including more detailed eligibility requirements, on the Seattle.gov/UDP website (click here.)
For those unable to apply for a discount, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan has announced that customers of Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities will not have their services turned off, even if payments fall behind, throughout the pandemic. Customers can set up a deferred payment play by calling 206/684-3000 or through the Seattle Public Utilities website (click here.)