Clear River Electric & Water District offers Financial Hardship Protection to customers who qualify based on their annual household income. The Financial Hardship Protection does not offer a discounted electricity rate or exemption from paying your electric bill. This program provides eligible customers with additional protections to prevent electric disconnections for non-payment during the winter months and offers those customers additional extended payment arrangement options to pay their bill. This information must be updated annually to remain enrolled.
Who can apply for the Financial Hardship Program and what do I need to prove my income?
- Financial hardship category: lf the combined income for your family size meets or is less than 75% of the Median Income on the chart in Appendix A, you qualify and should :
- Fill out the Financial Hardship Statement.
- Provide proof of the gross income for your family with paystubs, W-2 Forms, Social Security income statements or proof you qualify for food stamps, or some other form of public assistance.
- Infant and Financial Hardship Protection – To qualify for infant protection there must be an infant under the age of twenty-four (24) months living at the residence and you must also qualify for financial hardship.
If you meet both requirements, you should:
- Fill out the Financial Hardship Statement.
- Provide proof of the gross income for your family with paystubs, W-2 Forms, Social Security income statements or proof you qualify for food stamps, or some other form of public assistance.
- Provide a birth certificate for the infant in the household.
Non-Financial Based Protections
Clear River Electric & Water District offers additional protections to customers who qualify, that are not based on annual household income. These protections do not provide a discounted electricity rate or exemption from paying your electric bill, but affords eligible customers alternative payment arrangements and requires the Clear River Electric & Water District to seek permission from the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission before any termination would occur. This information must be updated annually to remain enrolled.
- Handicap Protection: if someone in the household is handicapped you must provide the District with a completed Handicapped Protection Form. This information must be updated every year by your doctor.
- Serious Illness Protection: If someone in the household is seriously ill, you must provide the District with a completed Serious Illness Protection Form. “Seriously ill” shall mean an illness that is or has a significant potential to become life threatening or cause irreversible adverse consequences to human health.
- Elderly Protection: If all residents in the household are sixty-two or over you must provide the District with a copy of the household members birth certificate. This information must be updated every year.
- Priority Status-if someone in the household is dependent upon electricity to power life support equipment you must provide the District with a Priority Customer Registration Form annually.
For more information please click the links below or call Customer Service at 401-568-6222.