The Dec. 28 deadline to apply for CARES Act assistance has passed. Utilities is exploring the potential for additional funding from state and federal sources and will reopen the application if funds become available.
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CARES Act Assistance#
Are you behind on your utility bills due to hardship related to the pandemic?
If you or your small business are behind on your bill from Fort Collins Utilities due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, you may be eligible for financial assistance through the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, enacted by Congress on March 27, 2020. Fort Collins Utilities has received $500,000 to directly support our customers in need.
Residential customers may request financial assistance totaling $600 or less for past-due Fort Collins Utilities bills dated April 20 or later (electric, water, stormwater and wastewater services).
- Apply early. Funds are limited, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The application deadline is Monday, Dec. 28.
- Approved funds will be applied directly to customer accounts as bill credits within 30 days.
Eligibility
Residential customers must:
- Have an electric account with Utilities.
- Be a Utilities account holder or co-applicant.
- One application per account number. The account does not need to be active to apply.
- Have lawful presence in the United States.
- Have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19, defined as adverse financial consequences as a result of you (the customer), your spouse, or a member of your household:
- Being quarantined, furloughed or laid off, or having work hours reduced due to COVID-19.
- Being unable to work due to lack of childcare due to COVID-19.
- Closing or reducing hours of a business that you own or operate due to COVID-19.
- Having pay or self-employment income reduced due to COVID-19.
- Having a job offer rescinded or start date for a job delayed due to COVID-19.
- Experiencing other hardships due to COVID-19 as applicable.
Eligible expenses include past-due balances for Utilities services (electric, water, stormwater and wastewater) on bills dated on or after April 20, up to $600. Fort Collins Utilities reserves the right to make the final determination on how much assistance you are eligible for.
Ineligible expenses include:
- Past-due balances for services billed prior to April 20
- Charges for current billing period
- Late fees, reconnection fees or payment reversal fees
- Broadband expenses
- Any remaining balance over $600
Required Information
You'll need to provide the following information in order to complete the application:
- Account number (found on your bill or by calling 970-212-2900)
- Contact information (account holder or co-applicant name, email and phone number)
- Service address with electric service
- How COVID-19 has impacted your ability to pay your utility bills
- The amount of assistance you are requesting
- Annual household income (optional)
Additional Help#
Small business customers may request financial assistance totaling $1,200 or less for past-due Fort Collins Utilities bills dated May 1 or later (electric, water, stormwater and wastewater services).
- Apply early. Funds are limited, and applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The application deadline is Monday, Dec. 28.
- Approved funds will be applied directly to commercial customer accounts as bill credits within 30 days.
- One account is allowed per application. If your business has multiple accounts, you are welcome to submit multiple applications.
Eligibility - Updated Oct. 30
All legal types of businesses and organizations are eligible if they meet all of the criteria below. To receive assistance, commercial customers must:
- Have less than 500 employees.
- Have an electric account with Fort Collins Utilities.
- Have an owner with a lawful presence in the United States (U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or otherwise lawfully present in the U.S.).
- Have experienced economic hardship due to COVID-19.
- Business hardship, such as:
- Loss of revenue due to COVID-19.
- Employees unable to come to work due to COVID-19.
- Closing or reducing business hours due to COVID-19.
- Other hardships due to COVID-19 as applicable.
- Individual hardship, defined as adverse financial consequences as a result of you (the owner), your spouse, or a member of your household:
- Being quarantined, furloughed or laid off, or having work hours reduced due to COVID-19.
- Being unable to work due to lack of childcare due to COVID-19.
- Having pay or self-employment income reduced due to COVID-19.
- Having a job offer rescinded or start date for a job delayed due to COVID-19.
- Experiencing other hardships due to COVID-19 as applicable.
- Business hardship, such as:
Eligible expenses include past-due balances for Utilities services (electric, water, stormwater and wastewater) on bills dated May 1 or later, up to $1,200. Fort Collins Utilities reserves the right to make the final determination on how much assistance you are eligible for.
Ineligible expenses include:
- Past-due balances for services billed prior to May 1
- Charges for current billing period
- Late fees, reconnection fees or payment reversal fees
- Broadband expenses
- Any remaining balance over $1,200
Required Information
You'll need to provide the following information in order to complete the application:
- Account number (found on your bill or by calling 970-212-2900)
- Contact information (account holder or co-applicant name, email and phone number)
- Service address with electric service
- How COVID-19 has impacted your business's ability to pay its utility bills
- The amount of assistance your business is requesting
- Total number of employees (full time equivalent)
- IRS Document W-9, which is required for the City of Fort Collins to report the revenue applicants receive from this program to the IRS. For more information, visit: irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-9