Council News Release

Councilmember Jean Godden

Seattle City Councilmember Jean Godden
takes up Utility Discount Program for low income and elderly
More change is needed to ensure access

Seattle – At the urging of Councilmember Jean Godden, the Libraries, Utilities and Center Committee today sent a letter calling for two changes to the Utility Discount Program (UDP).  These changes would immediately benefit low-income families and seniors who need assistance.

The letter, addressed to Ray Hoffman, Director of Seattle Public Utilities, and Dannette Smith, Director of the Human Services Department, calls for:

1. Changing the re-enrollment schedule for low-income seniors from once every 18 months to once every 3 years; and,
2. Making low-income discount rates retroactive to the date a certified application is received

"People who are fully qualified shouldn’t have to wait months for assistance," stated Godden. "Discounts should be retroactive to the date when a qualified customer submits the complete UDP application.

"Unnecessary red tape and bureaucratic delay seems like a high price for those in need to have to bear. Seattle can do better and should."

For more information please visit Councilmember Godden’s review of the program here. You can also visit the Utility Discount Program site.

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