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No Fees for Late Water Bills

Official:Amending Section 19-1606 of The Philadelphia Code Entitled “Penalties and Interest for Late Payment,” by exempting certain residential customers from penalties and interest for late payment of water and sewer rent charges; all under certain terms and conditions.

Sponsor: Councilmember Young

Introduced: October 16, 2025

: Committee on Finance

finance housingwater sewer

Plain-Language Summary

This bill would exempt certain residential customers from paying penalties and interest for late payment of water and sewer rent charges.

What This Bill Does

AI-written. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

Exempts certain residential customers from paying penalties and interest for late payment of water and sewer rent charges.
Applies to water and sewer rent charges that accrue on and after January 1, 1960.
Caps the additional penalties for unpaid water or sewer rent charges at different rates depending on the payment cycle: 3% for semi-annual cycles, 1.5% for quarterly cycles, and 0.5% for monthly cycles, with a 30-day delay before the first additional penalty is imposed.
Requires the Department to serve a notice to the delinquent property owner if any water or sewer rent charge remains unpaid for two cycles after the bill has been rendered.

Both Sides

AI-written arguments. Every figure is checked against the bill text.

The case for

This bill helps families and low-income residents by eliminating penalties and interest for late payment of water and sewer rent charges, dating back to 1960, and capping additional penalties at reasonable rates. This relieves financial burdens on those who struggle to pay their water and sewer bills, allowing them to focus on making timely payments without incurring excessive fines. The notice requirement also gives property owners more time to address unpaid charges, preventing unexpected penalties and promoting financial stability.

The case against

This bill unfairly relieves a select group of residential customers from the consequences of their own late payments, placing the burden on the City to absorb the lost revenue. By capping additional penalties at different rates, the bill also sets a precedent that future municipal legislation can be used to negotiate more favorable terms for certain customers, potentially undermining the city's ability to manage its finances effectively. Ultimately, this bill hands the Department more administrative tasks, including serving notices to delinquent property owners, without providing any corresponding increase in resources or funding.

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