Senate Approves Income-Based Payment Plans for Water and Electricity Bills
The measure limits monthly payments to 5% of household income for residential customers and includes options for small businesses to avoid service interruptions.
File photoThe short version
- NotiCel reports the Senate approved House Bill 133 establishing payment plans for water and electricity debts with initial payments of 5% to 20% of the accumulated debt
- According to NotiCel monthly installments for residential customers cannot exceed 5% of family income
- El Sol de Puerto Rico states the legislation also covers payment plans distribution of extraordinary increases and level billing for small businesses
- NotiCel indicates the bill aims to facilitate compliance and reduce risk of service interruptions
Legislation Details
On Monday the Senate approved House Bill 133 known as the Law of Payment Plans to Guarantee the Continuity of Essential Services. NotiCel reported that residential customers may enter into agreements with an initial payment between 5 and 20 percent of the accumulated debt. The legislation sets monthly payments so they do not exceed 5 percent of family income.
The bill also includes payment plans distribution of extraordinary rate increases and level billing for small commercial establishments. El Sol de Puerto Rico reported that the purpose is to facilitate compliance with obligations and reduce the risk of interruptions in water and electricity services.
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Other Measures Approved
In the same session the Senate approved other legislation including House Bill 1183 to declare the lands of Valle de Bucarabones in Toa Alta as an agricultural reserve with special zoning and restrictions on farm segregation. NotiCel reported that Senate Vice President Carmelo Ríos Santiago said the measure represents an opportunity to preserve highly fertile lands for agricultural projects already developing in the region.
Additionally the chamber approved a joint resolution providing a recurring allocation of $5 million starting in fiscal year 2027-2028 for operational expenses of the Sociedad de Educación y Rehabilitación of Puerto Rico. NotiCel reported that the Office of Management and Budget must identify the resources and the organization must submit annual reports on fund use services offered and number of beneficiaries.
Where the sources differ
Both NotiCel and El Sol de Puerto Rico agree that the Senate approved House Bill 133 to create payment plans for water and electricity debts adjusted to income and aimed at preventing service suspensions. NotiCel provides more details including the 5-to-20-percent initial payment range the 5-percent-of-income cap for monthly residential payments and the bill's full name while also covering the agricultural reserve measure and the $5-million allocation. El Sol de Puerto Rico focuses on the payment plans for residential and small-business customers and the goal of avoiding suspensions of water and energy but does not mention the specific percentages or other bills approved in the session.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state when the bill will reach the governor for signature whether the governor supports the measure or when the payment plans would become available to customers. They also do not indicate how many households or businesses currently face disconnection risks or the total amount of outstanding utility debt the legislation seeks to address.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Senado aprueba planes de pago de luz y agua ajustados a ingresos de consumidores
- Reporting Senado aprueba planes de pago para evitar la suspensión de agua y energía
How we checked this
NotiCel and El Sol de Puerto Rico both reported the approval of the payment-plan legislation on Oct. 26 with NotiCel supplying most of the numerical details and additional measures approved. The 5-percent income cap and initial-payment range rest solely on the NotiCel account.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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