WSSC Water Expands Customer Assistance Programs to Offer Greater Relief Amid Financial Uncertainty

Laurel, Md. – October 15, 2025 – WSSC Water Commissioners today unanimously approved a series of customer assistance programs to provide greater financial relief, including an updated Get Current program and a new Emergency Relief Fund to help more customers find support and peace of mind during periods of financial uncertainty.

The updated Get Current program, launching December 1, 2025, will run through December 31, 2025, and includes expanded eligibility and updated income criteria to include federal workers impacted by recent government actions. The current programs end at the end of November.

Who Can Take Advantage of Get Current Launching December 1, 2025?

• Eligible customers with a delinquent balance as of October 1, 2025. (Currently June 1, 2025)
• Customers are eligible if their household income is below 150 percent of the area median income* OR self-certify that they are experiencing financial hardship due to recent federal government actions.

Get Current Program Benefits

• Pay half, half forgiven: Customers who pay half of their full account balance (as of the date of their Get Current application) will see the remainder of their balance forgiven.
   
  • Example: Owe $1,000, pay $500 and the remaining $500 will be removed from the account within 24 hours of payment. Plus, 100 percent of late payment charges and turn-on fees are waived.
     
• Pay 25 percent, 25 percent forgiven: Customers who pay 25 percent of their full account balance (as of the date of their Get Current application) will see 25 percent of their balance forgiven.
   
  • Example: Owe $1,000, pay $250 and $250 will be removed from the account within 24 hours of payment, leaving a balance of $500 to be paid via a 12-month payment plan. Plus, 100 percent of late payment charges and turn-on fees will be waived upon completion of the payment plan. 

Additional Benefits 

• Customers with a qualifying high bill are also eligible for an adjustment under the current Get Current program and the updated program launching December 1. A high bill in these programs is defined as having an average daily consumption (ADC) that is 2.5 times the seasonal comparable ADC from the previous year (or current ADC if comparable is unavailable). The adjustment will remove 100 percent of the excess charges for up to 2 consecutive billing periods.
   
  • Example: High ADC 360 gallons, comparable ADC 144 gallons. The high ADC is 2.5 times the comparable. The adjustment would remove the charges in excess of 144 gallons. 

Residential customers above 150 percent of the area median income are eligible for a 100 percent waiver of late payment charges and turn-on fees if the delinquent balance is paid in full or a 50 percent payment is made and the balance is paid within 36 months. Commercial and multi-unit residential accounts with master meters also qualify for a 100 percent waiver of late payment charges and turn-on fees.  

* Get Current 150 percent Area Median Income Limits by Household Size for Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. 

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NEW Emergency Relief Fund to Support Income-Constrained Customers Coming Soon

To further assist customers facing financial hardship, WSSC Water is also working to establish a $2.4 million Emergency Relief Fund designed to provide one-time assistance of up to $750 for income-constrained residential customers, including current and former federal employees and contractors impacted by recent government actions.

Eligibility requirements and more details will be posted at wsscwater.com/assistance when the Emergency Relief Fund launches on December 1, 2025. 

“When elected Chair in June, I outlined four key priority areas to guide our work with affordability at the top of the list,” said Commission Chair Mark J. Smith. “These expanded customer assistance programs represent an additional layer of financial support for those struggling to pay their bills during these financially difficult times.” 

“I am grateful to our Commissioners for their leadership and dedication as we broaden and strengthen our customer assistance programs,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. “These initiatives go beyond financial assistance. They’re about caring for our customers when they need it most.” 

As of October 1, approximately 80,000 accounts, totaling more than $58.1 million, are past due; the vast majority (94 percent) are residential customers.   

To learn more about WSSC Water’s financial assistance programs, please visit wsscwater.com/assistance.