Riverview residents who are struggling with a utility bill have a few places to start. Hillsborough County Water Resources has a hardship discount and can set up pay plans, and Tampa Electric lists several kinds of payment help on its assistance page. This guide walks through each option, who qualifies and how to reach the people who run them. More cost-saving resources are collected on the cost of living page.
Water bills: the county hardship discount
Hillsborough County has a water and wastewater hardship (affordability) assistance discount. According to the county, the discount "is equal to $2.50 per month for water service and/or $2.50 per month for wastewater service." That means up to $2.50 per month off water service and up to $2.50 per month off wastewater service. The county's program page is here: Water and wastewater hardship/affordability assistance discount.
Who qualifies
The county sets a requirement about the home itself. In its words: "The service address must be an individually metered single-family residence and the primary residence." Put simply:
- The service address must be an individually metered single-family residence.
- It must also be your primary residence.
If your water is billed through a shared meter, or the address is not your primary residence, the discount as described by the county would not apply. The county's page is the place to confirm any other requirements before you apply.
How to apply
Residents apply online. The county's program page includes a link labeled "Apply online for the program," which leads to the county application form. Have your water account information handy when you start, so you can match the service address to the account.
Water bills: pay plans
A discount is not the only tool. Water Resources customer service representatives can help customers set up pay plans for water bills. The county describes this as customer service representatives who "can assist customers in creating custom and impartial pay plans." Details are on the county's pay plans page.
Customers who need a pay plan should call (813) 307-1000 between 8 AM and 5 PM, Monday through Friday. A pay plan can be useful if you are behind or expect a larger bill, since it spreads out what you owe rather than reducing the amount.
Electric bills: Tampa Electric assistance
Tampa Electric has a payment assistance page that gathers its options in one place: Tampa Electric payment assistance. The company's Customer Assistance Team takes calls at 888-223-0800 from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. If you are not sure which program fits your situation, that team is the first call to make.
LIHEAP
Under the heading "Financial assistance to pay your bill," Tampa Electric lists LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Application is made through the state program site, which Tampa Electric's page points to. Tampa Electric lists it as financial assistance to pay an electric bill.
EHEAP
Tampa Electric also lists EHEAP as "Financial help for a Florida resident age 60 or older." If someone in your household is a Florida resident age 60 or older, this is worth asking about when you call.
A simple way to approach it
- Gather your most recent water and electric bills, and note which company bills each service.
- For water, check whether your home is an individually metered single-family residence and your primary residence. If so, use the county's online application for the hardship discount.
- If you need time to catch up on a water bill, call (813) 307-1000 on a weekday between 8 AM and 5 PM and ask about a pay plan.
- For electric help, call Tampa Electric at 888-223-0800 on a weekday between 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., and ask about LIHEAP and, if it applies, EHEAP.
- Keep notes on who you spoke with and what was agreed.
The water discount and the electric programs are separate, so applying for one does not replace the other. Each is run by a different organization with its own application path.
Who to contact
- Hillsborough County Water Resources, for pay plans: (813) 307-1000, 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday.
- Hillsborough County Water Resources, for the hardship discount: apply online through the county program page.
- Tampa Electric Customer Assistance Team: 888-223-0800, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.
Sources
Compiled from the official sources below.