Philadelphia passes "Just Water" package to expand rate assistance and curb defective meter charges

Philadelphia passes "Just Water" package to expand rate assistance and curb defective meter chargesThe city council has enacted two ordinances expanding the tiered assistance program to households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level and codifying protections against exorbitant back-billing caused by malfunctioning utility infrastructure.

City Council unanimously approved Bills 251020 and 251021, dubbed the "Just Water" legislative package.

The legislation expands income eligibility for water rate discounts to households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level.

The package codifies a "shared responsibility" policy, authorizing the reduction of customer water bills caused by defective or inaccurate Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) meters.

Councilmember Jamie Gauthier cited instances of residents receiving back-bills as high as $8,000 due to PWD infrastructure failures, stating the department must be held accountable.

The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed a pair of ordinances on June 11, 2026, aimed at reforming municipal water billing and expanding rate assistance for low-income residents. Spearheaded by Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Bills 251020 and 251021—collectively referred to as the "Just Water" legislative package—address what councilmembers described as systemic policy failures by the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) that have disproportionately burdened working families and threatened residents with property loss. Bill 251021 revises the city's income eligibility standards for water and sewer rent discounts and installment payment agreements. According to Gauthier, the legislation expands the city's tiered assistance program to households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level, granting financial relief to families who were previously denied support. Bill 251020 amends the city code regarding charges generated by defective water meters. The ordinance officially codifies a "shared responsibility" policy that PWD initially announced in 2013 but never put into regulation. The measure restricts the utility's ability to issue massive back-bills when municipal water meters fail to transmit data accurately. Gauthier heavily criticized PWD's historical billing practices during the session, citing cases where residents paid the ultimate price for aging utility infrastructure. She highlighted one constituent who was hit with an $8,000 back-bill for eight years of unrecorded data after upgrading a meter at PWD's recommendation, and another family that was overcharged hundreds of dollars despite paying their bills in cash with receipts. "For too long, this city has made residents pay for faults in government infrastructure," Gauthier said. "Let me be clear. The water department is responsible for these injustices." During the public comment period, a resident emphasized that aging municipal water infrastructure and systemic leaks are causing homeowners to face property loss due to exorbitant bills. Councilmember Nicholas O'Rourke also voiced his support for the package, praising it as a crucial step in combating the city's cost of living crisis. Both bills passed with 17-0 votes.