City of San Marcos launches Utility Assistance Program

Staff Reports

The City of San Marcos is now accepting applications for its utility assistance program. The program provides up to $1,500 in assistance on delinquent accounts to qualified residential customers financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or the February winter storm. Customers are eligible for assistance if they have a residential utility account with a balance that has been past due for more than 60 days.

City Council directed staff to develop the utility assistance program during its March 16 regular meeting. At least $700,000 of City funding has been allocated to the program. Because funding is limited, assistance will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

On Friday, June 11, the City’s Utility Billing department mailed letters and applications to 1,303 residential customers eligible for assistance. The application form is available online in both English and Spanish and may be submitted electronically at sanmarcostx.gov/utilityassistance.

Completed applications may also be submitted:

• In-person at the San Marcos Utility Customer Service Counter, 630 East Hopkins Street, or the San Marcos Electric Utility Office, 1040 Highway 123
• By email: utility_billing@sanmarcostx.gov
• By mail, Attn. Utility Billing: City of San Marcos, 630 East Hopkins, San Marcos, TX 78666
• By fax: 855.759.2835

Only one application may be submitted per customer and incomplete applications will not be processed. Assistance may be approved for an account’s balance but may not exceed $1,500. Customers will be responsible for paying any remaining or pending utility billing balance after assistance has been applied to an account.

Utility disconnections and late fees were temporarily postponed in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council voted to resume disconnections August 1. Reminders will be sent to customers with delinquent accounts beginning the last week of June.

For more information about the utility assistance program, contact Utility Customer Service at 512.393.8383 or utility_billing@sanmarcostx.gov.