Houston Public Works is providing a special grace period on water/wastewater bill payments by federal employees affected by the federal government shutdown, Mayor Sylvester Turner announced today. Federal workers who pay City of Houston water bills should call 713-371-1400 to receive a 30-day extension of their payment deadline without penalties or interest charges.
These billpayers will get instructions by phone about how to fax or e-mail required proof of their employment by the federal government. Federal employees also will be entitled to extended payment plan arrangements for water bills that are overdue for more than 60 days.
During the shutdown, about 800,000 federal workers across the nation are not being paid, and about half have been relieved of their job duties temporarily.
“Houstonians who serve the public through their work for the federal government deserve a break while they go without their paychecks,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “This grace period on water payments is the least we can do to help while we have an ordinance that prohibits waiving of fees.”
The city is also working with the Houston Relief Hub, a non-profit organization, to provide federal workers in need with donated items such as non-perishable food, cleaning items and diapers. Go online to houstonreliefhub.org for information on receiving aid, volunteering or donating.
“Hurricane Harvey showed the world the Houston way of helping each other,” the mayor said. “The city, non-profits and volunteers are stepping again in a big way, as they will always do.”