The amended budget for the Commonwealth of Virginia, signed by Gov. Northam on Nov. 18, 2020, allocated $100 million of federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funds toward relief for utility customers whose accounts are in arrears more than 30 days (CARES Utility Relief Funds).
The Town of Christiansburg has been allocated a portion of the CARES Utility Relief Funds to apply to water and wastewater accounts that have been past due for more than 30 days. The Town has identified customers who qualify for this funding and will be sending them individual notices in the mail. If you do not receive a letter but believe that you qualify, please contact the Finance Office or download the form from our website, complete the form and turn it in by the due date. We will review all submissions for qualification for the program.
For CARES Utility Relief Funds to be applied to your account, you must complete, sign, and submit the enclosed application by 5pm on Monday, April 5, 2021, to be considered. Submission of an application does not guarantee any or all of your account arrearages will be offset by CARES Utility Relief Funds. CARES Utility Relief Funds do not and cannot cover stormwater fees, solid waste charges or any other fees. The funding can only be applied to unpaid water and wastewater bills with due dates of May 1, 2020, through February 1, 2021. Funding is designed to be a one-time opportunity, with only one payment per household (for residential) or per account holder and their successors (for non-residential). If you previously received relief from this funding, you are NOT eligible.
The state’s timeframe to administer the CARES Utility Relief Funds has been extended which gives us an opportunity to request a new round of certifications for potential relief. The enclosed application can also be found on our website at www.christiansburg.org/utilityrelief. Completed and signed applications must be submitted to Christiansburg Town Hall—100 E. Main Street, Christiansburg, VA 24073—by 5 p.m. on April 5, 2021. Applications can be mailed, dropped off to the Town’s Finance Office or submitted via the Town’s drop box outside of Town Hall.
The goal of this program is to assist utility customers experiencing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to applying for this funding, please be aware that the Town of Christiansburg offers payment plans. Although the Town is currently under a moratorium for utility disconnects you are still responsible for payment in full for all services rendered. To set up a payment plan with the Town or for any questions regarding utility billing or CARES Utility Relief Funds, please call the Finance Office at (540) 382-9519 weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.