Relief available for JXN Water customers with past due bills. What you need to know

Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba on Thursday touted initial results of a new debt-relief program designed to help Jackson residents reduce the amount owed on past due water bills.

The program comes in response to complaints from residents that their water meters are not being properly read and that “estimated” bills being sent by the water department have been inaccurate and inflated.

To qualify, residents and business owners must have had water or wastewater services in Jackson, have a past-due balance from before Dec. 1, 2022, and believe their bill is inaccurate. People who have not received a bill can also apply.

“Some time ago we promised to repair our broken, aged water system and get the resources that were necessary. As we had these discussions time and time again we were met by residents who expressed concerns over their water billing. We said that we would fight for equity in the water billing practice and process and that we would make residents whole,” Lumumba said.

Lumumba said the relief program represents a “collective effort” between his administration, Jackson’s third party water administrator Ted Henifin, and the group Promise, described as an Oakland, California-based technology firm which assists government in providing money to people who need it most.

“As of today they have already provided $5 million in relief to Jackson residents,” Lumumba said.

Tariq Abdul-Tawwab, Chief Experience Officer of JXN Water, said the goal has been to “maximize federal dollars.” He praised Promise and the other team collaborators for doing “a tremendous job.” He said, “As a city we are moving in the right direction.”

Still, the program has been met with some skepticism.

Abdul-Tawwab said people have been coming to him saying that they refuse to participate because they are being told not to trust sharing their personal information with JXN Water.

“We are under a federal mandate. We take every single precaution. It is a severe disservice to the residents of Jackson if people are telling them not to come and get these funds. Please don’t advise residents not to take advantage of something that will do them good,” Abdul-Tawwab said.

Lumumba echoed advice not to believe anyone saying people should not take advantage of the program. “First, the water department already has your information--they are the ones who maintain the data,” Lumumba said.

Despite the alleged concerns Lumumba said people were lining up at the Metrocenter water office as early as 6 a.m. Thursday morning and that by 2:15 p.m. approximately 2,100 people had been served.

The current round of debt relief will be provided only for bills incurred prior to Dec. 1, 2022. Lumumba said “other means” may be eventually looked at for debt relief for bills arriving after Dec. 1, 2022.

One Jackson water customer who came to the office to seek relief Thursday said those “other means” can’t come too quickly for her.

Sandra Jones, who lives in Midtown, said her billing problems only began in January. Historically she said her monthly bill was around $68 but it rose to $249 in January and $2,166 for February.

Jones said officials suggested she may have a leak but she insisted there is no leak at her house. She also said her water meter is locked so that she can’t check the reading on the bill versus the actual reading on the meter.

“This is my second time to come down here. They just said they will send it to a supervisor for review and I should check back in seven days,” Jones said.

If that answer wasn’t entirely what she wanted, Jones said she remains hopeful the water administration will eventually get it straightened out. “There is no way the water bill should jump from $68 to $2,100 for one month,” Jones said.

Other customers expressed satisfaction with the program. One person told reporters their bill was reduced by more than $2000. There is no cap on the amount people can qualify for, officials said.

In addition to meeting customers at the main water office JXN Water set up satellite centers at several other locations throughout the city Thursday. It is not known precisely how long the program will last but Abdul-Tawwab said people should file their applications as quickly as possible to avoid missing out.

The JXN Water office is located at 1000 Metrocenter Mall, Suite 103. In addition to visiting the water office people can apply for the relief online at www.peoplesreliefcampaign.com or by calling 601-374-5787.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Relief available for Jackson, MS, Water customers with past due bills