Illinois American Water is praising Gov. JB Pritzker for calling on the new Congress to make the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program, known as LIHWAP, a permanent federal program.
In a statement, the company said access to safe, clean, reliable and affordable water is essential, and that a permanent federal water assistance program would provide critical support for income-eligible households struggling to manage their bills.
"We welcome the Governor's recognition of reliable and affordable water service and stand ready to work with policymakers to advance a sustainable, long-term solution," the company said.
Illinois American Water said American Water, its parent company, has steadfastly supported reauthorizing a federal LIHWAP program and has worked with a range of leaders to build support for renewing it. The company said it stands ready to assist as members of Congress set their agenda.
What LIHWAP is
According to Illinois American Water's website, LIHWAP is a federally funded program that provides emergency bill-payment assistance to help low-income families pay past-due water and wastewater bills. The site says the program is for residential service only and is administered in Illinois by the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
The program was created by Congress in 2020 as part of COVID-19 relief and provided one-time assistance to households facing shutoff, already disconnected, or carrying past-due balances. According to the National Resources Defense Council, Congress provided only temporary funding, which ran out at the end of 2023. The NRDC says LIHWAP supported more than 1.5 million households nationwide and prevented nearly 1 million water disconnections before the money was exhausted.
According to the National Association of Water Companies, bipartisan legislation known as the LIHWAP Establishment Act has been introduced in Congress to make the program permanent.
About Illinois American Water
According to the company's website, Illinois American Water is a subsidiary of American Water and the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, serving about 1.3 million people in 148 communities across 13 operating districts.