Detroit’s water department is stepping up for its community, rolling out the DWSD EasyPay Plan to help customers manage their past-due water bills and keep their services running smoothly. This new plan, unveiled by Detroit Water and Sewer Department (DWSD) Director Gary Brown at Mayor Mike Duggan’s Charter-Mandated Community Meeting, offers a lifeline to those struggling to pay their water bills, irrespective of their income or customer status.
The EasyPay Plan is designed to be accessible and straightforward, allowing any DWSD customer with a past due balance to enroll with just a $10 down payment. This initiative aims to address the financial burdens many Detroiters face, ensuring that water services remain uninterrupted while providing a manageable pathway to settle outstanding balances.
Director Brown emphasized the importance of this new plan, noting the feedback from customers about the need for a low startup fee and more flexible payment terms. By consulting with other major cities and learning from their experiences, DWSD crafted a plan that is both effective and inclusive. The $10 down payment, coupled with a 36-month repayment period, offers a viable solution for customers to stay current on their bills without facing water shutoffs or penalties.
Here’s a breakdown of the EasyPay Plan:
- Replaces the previous 10/30/50 Plan.
- Requires only a $10 deposit, regardless of the total past due balance.
- No income restrictions to qualify.
- Available to all customers, including residents, nonprofits, faith-based institutions, and businesses.
- Payments can be made easily by phone, online, or at a DivDat kiosk.
Once enrolled, customers have up to 10 days to make their $10 deposit, particularly if they prefer to use cash at a DivDat kiosk. From the second month onwards, they will pay a portion of their past due balance along with their current monthly bill. For instance, a family of three with an average past due balance of $1,240 and a current bill of $85 per month would pay $10 the first month, then $34.17 for the past due balance in subsequent months, in addition to their current bill.
Notably, the EasyPay Plan extends its benefits to all types of customers, including parking lots and vacant buildings with past due drainage accounts. Once enrolled, customers are shielded from shutoffs and other collection actions as long as they remain current on their bills.
To enroll in the EasyPay Plan, customers can call 313-267-8000 and say “Easy Pay” or visit the DWSD Customer Self-Service Portal at https://csportal.detroitmi.gov. For more information, visit https://detroitmi.gov/easypaywater.
This initiative marks a significant step in addressing the water affordability crisis in Detroit, providing a practical and humane solution to ensure every Detroiter has access to essential water services.
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