From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of West Chicago has been acutely aware of the impact, both directly and indirectly, to our customers. Since March of this year, the City chose not to apply late fees, initiate and apply posting fees or initiate water service terminations for customers’ failure to pay water/sewer bills by the due date(s).
Many of the City’s customers have taken advantage of the alternative payment arrangement that was publicized, which requires payment of 50% of the current amount billed by the billing due date, with the remaining balance of the amount billed to be paid within 30 days following the due date. Customers who did not participate in the alternative payment arrangement by the original due date of their bill, and currently have an outstanding amount due for previous amounts billed, are not eligible to request a payment arrangement until such time as they become current.
Now that the State of Illinois has entered Phase IV of its reopening plan, and consistent with other public utilities and local governments, beginning August 1, 2020, the City will resume charging late fees for failure to pay water/sewer bills by the original billing due date or by July 31, 2020. Effective August 1, 2020, the City will also resume the process for posting past due accounts and termination of water services for accounts that remain outstanding after the posting due date.
For those continuing to need assistance with finances during the pandemic, DuPage County (630-407-6500) and the Townships (Winfield: 630-231-3591; Wayne: 630-231-7173) have programs to help with mortgage and utility bill payments and should be contacted directly.
