SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The City of South Bend is introducing a program to help low-income residents pay certain utility bills, like drinking water and wastewater.

The City has partnered with REAL Services on the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help qualifying low-income customers pay for electric and heating bills during the winter.

Customers who qualify for LIHEAP will be automatically enrolled in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP), which gives low-income customers a credit for sewer service on their monthly bills.

These customers could see a reduction from $10 to $19 on their monthly bills for a year.

Interested customers must apply for LIHEAP first through REAL Services by calling 574-232-6501.

Applications are due by May 15.

CAP is funded through ratepayers, with every residential sewer customer paying an addition $1.75 per month to assist qualifying low-income residential sewer customers.