PSA From Utility Depart and Assistance Programs For Trinidad Water & Sewer Utility Customers

Dear City of Trinidad Water & Sewer Utility Customers:
This notice is to inform you of the rate increase pursuant to the City of Trinidad Code of
Ordinance No. 3073 and Ordinance No. 3074 affecting the water and sewer rate schedules to all
customer categories as amended and became effective on April 1, 2023. The rate increases were
necessary to maintain our operations and maintenance of our drinking water quality and sewer
standards. Water rates were adjusted at a 50% increase, and the sewer rates were adjusted by a
40% increase. The water rates have only increased by $10.32 in the past 48 years.
The second major change that you will notice on your utility bill is the unit billing of cubic feet of
water to gallons. Due to this conversion, you will notice a spike on your current monthly billing
graph.
We apologize for any confusion, and we greatly appreciate your understanding during this
transition. If you have any questions, please contact us at 719-846-9843.
Marc Vigil
Water Utility Director
Budget Billing from Trinidad Utilities: Budget Billing takes the guesswork out of planning for utility costs
by allowing you to pay a set amount each month. With budget billing, you continue to pay your bill, as usual, each month
and receive alerts anytime the set amount is scheduled to change. To enroll, stop by the utility office at 135 N Animas
Street in Trinidad or call 719-846-2266 during normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8 am-5 pm. You may also enroll
online by visiting our website at: https://www.trinidad.co.gov/services/utility_account_billing/index.php
City of Trinidad Round-Up Utility Assistance Program: The City of Trinidad utility customers may, upon
payment of their own utility bill, volunteer to round up their utility bill to the next dollar amount, or other specified
amount, and authorize the donation of those funds to the Round-Up Utility Assistance Program. The assistance
program funds will be available for assisting delinquent City utility customer accounts. No fees or deposits will be
eligible for payment through the program. To participate with a donation, simply use the Round-Up option when
paying your City of Trinidad Utility bill.
CITY OF TRINIDAD UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN
TRINIDAD
City of Trinidad Public Utilities Online Link:
https://www.trinidad.co.gov/services/public_utilities.php
Trinidad Code for Municipal Utilities:
https://www.trinidad.co.gov/government/chapter_12_-_municipal_utilities.php
Online Utility Account Access:
https://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/trinidadco
No FEE Direct Payment (ACH) Debit Option Form:
https://trinidadco.rja.revize.com/forms/4864
Available Assistance Programs listed on the City of Trinidad Website:
https://www.trinidad.co.gov/services/utility_account_billing/utility_assistance_programs.php
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TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE, YOU MUST:
• Be a City of Trinidad Utilities customer.
• Have a past due balance.
• Experience an emergency situation.
• Between Nov. 1 and April 30, all eligible customers must apply for Low-income Energy
Assistance Program (LEAP) assistance. If you qualify for LEAP assistance, you must be
approved before requesting additional assistance from the City of Trinidad.
Energy Outreach Colorado, find an agency that offers assistance.
Budget Billing from Trinidad Utilities: Budget Billing takes the guesswork out of planning for
utility costs by allowing you to pay a set amount each month. With budget billing, you continue to pay
your bill as usual each month and receive alerts anytime the set amount is scheduled to change.
To avoid fluctuating utility bills, we offer Budget Billing. With Budget Billing, your monthly payments
are the same each month. Your overall utility expenses are not reduced, but you will know ahead of
time exactly how much to pay no matter the season – making budget planning that much easier. In
the end, you will never pay for more than you use.
Benefits of Budget Billing
• Reduces bill fluctuations due to hot or cold weather.
• Easier to manage your budget and expenses with a predictable bill.
• Free enrollment.
How it Works:
• You pay a monthly amount equal to the most recent twelve (12) months divided by eleven (11).
Said monthly payments shall be made for the following eleven (11) successive months with the
final or twelfth (12th) months payment being a settlement amount equal to the difference
between the total payments made during the prior eleven (11) months and the actual amount
due for services in the twelfth (12th) month period. May is settlement month.
• If the account has a budget surplus or credit balance in May, the amount will be refunded to
the account holder in the form of a check. If the account has a budget deficit in May, the total
balance will be due and payable on the due date indicated on the bill for the settlement month.
• Normal collection procedure shall be applicable if you fail to pay the budget billing amount in
any month when due. If you fail to pay the budget billing amount following due notice, you
shall be removed from the Budget Billing Plan and the entire outstanding balance of the
account shall be due and payable.
• If service is terminated for any reason, you shall be removed from the Budget Billing Plan and
the entire outstanding balance of the account shall be due and payable.
• The monthly budget billing amount may be adjusted, at the option of the City, for any increase
in the City’s rates of two percent (2%) or more. Said monthly budget billing amount may also
be adjusted at the option of the City of the customer’s use of electrical, natural gas, sewer,
and/or water service increased greater than ten percent (10%). In such cases, the utility
department will notify the utility customer of the need for adjustment.
• You may elect to terminate the Budget Billing Plan at any time by notifying the City in writing
and by paying the in full the entire outstanding balance of the account.
• If you are removed from the Budget Billing Plan for any reason, you shall not be eligible for to
participate in the plan again for one (1) year.
Requirements
• Customer must have a billing history of twelve (12) consecutive months at the same service
address.
• Customer must have a zero balance on utility account when signing up before June 1st of each
year.
To enroll, stop by the utility office at 135 N Animas Street in Trinidad or call 719-846-2266 during
normal business hours, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. You may also enroll online by visiting our website
at: https://www.trinidad.co.gov/services/utility_account_billing/index.php
{One Time Per Year Use} The Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program
(LEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible hard-working Colorado families, seniors and
individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs. See their website for more information
on how to apply.
Link: https://cdhs.colorado.gov/leap
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
CDHS received additional funding from federal government to assist low-income households with
their water services. LIHWAP was created to provide a benefit to qualifying household to help
reconnect their disconnected drinking water or waste/sewer services or help the household if facing
disconnection with their drinking water and waste/sewer services, or if they have a past due amount
with their drinking water and waste/sewer services. LIHWAP can also assist with water included rent
and the rent is past due or facing eviction. Funds are limited and are on a first come first serve basis.
How to apply: LEAP accepts applications between November and April. Click below to learn more about
applying for LEAP benefits, including a checklist to help you prepare your application. If you’re looking for
assistance outside of LEAP season, it may be available. Please call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) for
more information.
To apply for LEAP, you can apply several ways: Apply online on the Colorado PEAK website
Download an application (English and Spanish links below) and drop it off at your local human services office,
or mail/email it to your county/contractor to process. For contact information, call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-
432-8435). You can also find your county’s mailing address in this contact list.
English LEAP Application Packet
If you are having a heating emergency, please call 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435) to apply over the
phone.
{One Time A Year Use} SCCOG (South Central Council of Government) offers an energy bill
assistance program through Energy Outreach Colorado. This program helps low-income Coloradoans
who are past due on their energy bill and in danger of having their home energy shut off. You can also
call 1.866.HEAT.HELP (1.866.432.8435) for further assistance. Link:
https://www.energyoutreach.org/bill-payment/
ACTS (Assisting our Community Through Service) may help Trinidad area customers who need
assistance with past due utility payments. Contact Lana Geier or Penny Saaedi at 719-285-4444.
Most Holy Trinity Church helps Trinidad area customers who need assistance with past due
utility payments. Contact John Pierce at (719) 846-3369
How can you help you friends & Neighbors by rounding up?
City of Trinidad Round-Up Utility Assistance Program:
In 2018 The Utility and Finance Department established the Round-Up Utility
Assistance Program. The City of Trinidad utility customers may, upon payment of
their own utility bill, volunteer to round up their utility bill to the next dollar amount,
or other specified amount, and authorize the donation of those funds to the RoundUp Utility Assistance Program. The assistance program funds will be available for assisting delinquent
City utility customer accounts. No fees or deposits will be eligible for payment through the program.
To participate with a donation, simply use the Round-Up option when paying your City of Trinidad
Utility bill.
Learn more at:
https://www.trinidad.co.gov/services/utility_account_billing/utility_assistance_programs.php
Resources:
https://www.trinidad.co.gov/services/public_utilities.php
https://www.hud.gov/states/colorado/renting/energyprgms
https://www.benefits.gov/benefit/1541
https://www.energyoutreach.org/cip/
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For more information, press only: Anissa Roth – Communications Coordinator
Office: 719-846-9843 Ext 116| Email: anissa.roth@trinidad.co.gov
135 N. Animas St. 3rd Floor, Trinidad, CO 81082
Visit our Official Website: https://www.trinidad.co.gov/