For the second year in a row, the city of Wichita will provide year-end rate relief to residents who have been struggling to pay their monthly water bills, and this will become a yearly program.

The city has been providing the Help-2-Others (H2O) program since 2013, and the program is administered through the Center of Hope.  The program was originally funded through donations, but the city adopted a 0.1 percent rate increase in 2015 to continue the program.   Public works director Alan King said there was additional money in the program in December, 2019, and that was used to provide one-time rate relief to over 300 customers.    This year, the program has an extra $178,000.

King said eligibility for the program is determined through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) operated by the state of Kansas.   The Rate Relief Program will take applications through December 31st, and applications can be made at the Neighborhood Resource Centers or through the Public Works Department.   The program will provide a $50 dollar credit on water bills for residents who were eligible for LIEAP assistance during the past year.

In future years, the program will begin in October.