Aguas de Cieza will apply discounts for families and special groups due to the economic situation caused by COVID-19, such as bill discounts or payment deferrals, among others.
The Cieza City Council announces the new social measures determined to mitigate the economic consequences of the coronavirus COVID-19. In addition to those already announced, there are those related to the water service, worked on in coordination with the company Aguas de Cieza.
For several years now, both entities have been working on implementing social measures aimed at vulnerable groups. As municipal sources confirm, “This isn't new to us, although we are aware that in the current situation these measures are especially important to ensure that no one—whether self-employed, a small or medium-sized business owner, a shopkeeper, a restaurant owner, or someone who has suddenly become unemployed—is left behind.”
Therefore, the governing team reminds citizens that the following options are available to them: interest-free financing or bill deferral, for all groups experiencing payment difficulties due to this exceptional situation. They also offer the fixed-rate plan (Plan 12 Gotas), which any customer can request and which allows them to pay the same amount each month based on the previous year's consumption, with the balance adjusted at the end of the year.
In addition, users can choose their preferred date of the month for direct debit payments. All discounts for vulnerable groups through reduced rates and the Social Fund, managed directly by the Social Services Department of the Cieza City Council, remain in effect.
As a result of this situation, additional measures have been activated since March 14th. From the beginning of the state of emergency until its end, all water service disconnections have been suspended. “For years, we have followed a policy of not cutting off water service to people in situations of economic vulnerability. In this way, we guarantee that a basic necessity like water reaches all homes. This is especially important at a time when hygiene has become essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19,” explained the relevant agency.
The new measures are based on greater flexibility. Among them, the bill payment period has been doubled. Regarding meter readings, billing will be based on estimates, using the consumption for the same period of the previous year as the basis for this estimate. Users can check their billing periods on the website: www.aguasdecieza.es; by calling the toll-free Customer Service line: 900110066; or by email: aguasdecieza@aguasdecieza.es (due to the suspension of regular mail service for obvious reasons).
For businesses and small shops affected by the Royal Decree and forced to suspend their activity on March 14th, the estimated water meter reading will be 0 m³ from that date forward. Large industries, defined as those consuming more than 5,000 m³/year, will not have their water meter readings estimated; they will have actual readings taken. Furthermore, a Social Fund has been established to cover water and sewage charges on bills for residential customers identified by the Cieza City Council's Social Services, as well as for businesses and industries whose activity has been affected by COVID-19. Specific forms will be made available to all of them to request a discount for the second and third billing periods of 2020.
With these measures, the City Council announces the steps taken to "reactivate the local economy" and "spread the joy to achieve normality as soon as possible".
For more information, you can visit the Aguas de Cieza website www.aguasdecieza.es; call the free Customer Service hotline 900110066 or email aguasdecieza@aguasdecieza.es
