IL HB0414

Establishes the Water and Sewer Financial Assistance Act to provide affordable water and sewer services to low-income Illinois residents through a voluntary assistance program administered by the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Creates the Water and Sewer Low-Income Assistance Fund, funded by monthly charges on customer accounts: $0.10 per month for residential water and sewer service, and $5.00 per month for non-residential water and sewer service, effective January 1, 2022.

Eligible applicants must be Illinois residents with household income not exceeding limits determined annually by the Department (no higher than Energy Assistance Act limits), with at least one-third of funds reserved for the lowest-income households and priority for elderly and disabled households.

Allows water and sewer providers to voluntarily participate in the assistance program and recover program costs through tariffs approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission; providers must impose the assistance charge to be eligible for fund reimbursements.

Sunsets the monthly assistance charge provisions on January 1, 2030, though the overall assistance program authorization continues.