Hampton Roads COVID Utility Relief

Are you a Hampton Roads resident or small business owner facing past-due utility bills because of COVID-19 issues? Help has arrived.

If you have overdue direct water and wastewater utility bill charges occurring Mar. 2020 through Dec. 2021, you may be eligible for assistance through the Municipal Utility Relief Program.

Through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Hampton Roads water and wastewater utilities are providing assistance through a statewide Municipal Utility Relief Program. Residents and businesses with COVID-related past-due balances may apply through their local utility provider. Application deadlines have been extended through 2021 but residents should act quickly; applications will be accepted until the funds are exhausted.

Are you eligible for the funding?

Residents must self-certify they have experienced COVID-related issues that have caused economic hardship such as:

job layoff
job loss due to employment closings
reduction in work hours
staying home to care for children due to

day care closings
school closings
lost child or spousal support

Relief also covers those who

have been unable to work or missed work due to contracting COVID-19
unable to find work due to COVID-19
unable to participate in their previous employment due to a high risk of severe illness

How to Apply

For local contact information and to learn more about how to apply in your city or county, see the listing below. To view a sample program application, click here.

Utility/Agency	Who to Contact	How to Contact	Additional Information
		URL/Email/Phone
HRSD		URL: HRSD.com/CARESActRelief Phone:877-391-5787
Chesapeake	Chesapeake Public Utilities	URL: www.cityofchesapeake.net/PUCARES Email: water@cityofchesapeake.net Phone: 757-382-6352	Customers without internet access, please call 757-382-6352
Franklin	Utility Billing Customer Service	Phone: 757-516-1001	View the application here. Please call to apply.
Hampton	Newport News Waterworks Customer Service	URL: www.nnva.gov/waterworks Email: wwcs@nnva.gov Phone: (855) 943-5445
Isle of Wight County	Public Utilities	Email: avann@isleofwightus.net Phone: 757-365-6284	Please call for more information.
James City County	Sarah Darber, James City Service Authority	URL: www.jamescitycountyva.gov/jcsa Email: jcsa@jamescitycountyva.gov Phone: 757 259-5416	For Newport News Waterworks customers in James City County, contact:www.nnva.gov/waterworks email: wwcs@nnva.gov phone: (855) 943-5445
Newport News	Newport News Waterworks Customer Service	URL: www.nnva.gov/waterworks Email: wwcs@nnva.gov Phone: (855) 943-5445
Norfolk	Norfolk Utility Relief Program	URL: www.norfolk.gov/utilityrelief Phone: 757-664-6700	Customers without internet access, please call the Norfolk Utilities Customer Service at 757-664-6700.
Poquoson	Department of Finance	Email: finance@poquoson-va.gov Phone: 757-868-3030	For Newport News Waterworks customers in Poquoson, contact:www.nnva.gov/waterworks email: wwcs@nnva.gov phone: (855) 943-5445
Portsmouth	Department of Public Utilities	URL: www.utilities.portsmouthva.gov Email: PortsmouthUtilityRelief@portsmouthva.gov Phone: 757-393-8524
Smithfield	Water Department	URL:https://www.smithfieldva.gov/news/article/december/28/2020/utility-bill-assistance Phone: 757-365-4200	Complete the application form posted online and return it to the Treasurer's department via email at bhunter@smithfieldva.gov. You may also call in and complete the form over the phone at 757-365-4200 or come into the office at 310 Institute Street.
Southampton County	Public Utilities	Email: asmith@southamptoncounty.org Phone: 757-653-3015	Application instructions are available here.
Suffolk	Department of Social Services	URL: www.suffolkva.us/1471/COVID-19-Utility-Relief Phone: 757-514-7450
Surry County		Check back soon. Will be updated as information is available
Virginia Beach		URL: www.vbgov.com/PUCARES	Customers without internet access can call 385-4160 to request a paper application
Williamsburg	Paula Sproston	URL: www.williamsburgva.gov/utilityrelief Email: water@williamsburgva.gov Phone: 757-220-6182	Paper applications are available for pickup in the foyer of the municipal building at 401 Lafayette St
York County	York County Utility Billing	Email: utility@yorkcounty.gov Phone: 757-890-3702	For Newport News Waterworks customers in York County, contact:www.nnva.gov/waterworks email: wwcs@nnva.gov phone: (855) 943-5445