Important update about the moratorium on service disconnections
On September 28, 2021, Mayor Woodards announced that she will extend the moratorium on service disconnections from nonpayment for Tacoma Public Utilities, providing our customers with additional time to take care of past due balances before disconnections resume.
Our goal is to help all our customers keep their service by providing installment plans and connecting them with assistance resources to pay down past due balances.
Relief options are available, but funding is limited and can be used by customers of other utilities. Some funding only applies to 12 months of outstanding balances.
When the moratorium ends, TPU will place all past due balances accumulated during the pandemic on an automatic 24-month installment plan. Customers must stay current on their installments and new balances in order to prevent disconnection.
If you have past due balances, now is the time to make a plan to pay them down, reduce the monthly amount you will need to pay on your installment plan, and prevent disconnection.
There are a number of resources to help:
- Payment assistance programs for eligible customers
- Payment installment arrangements
- Schedule payments through MyAccount
- Call 2-1-1 to find out what resources you might qualify for
Don’t wait to take care of past due balances. Make a plan and be prepared.
Our lobby is open – appointments now available!
At this time, only Customer Services and Customer solutions will accept in-person appointments.
Lobby Hours
Starting Monday, August 30, the TPU lobby is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Our Customer Services team can be reach by phone until 5:30 p.m.
Lobby Appointments
You can schedule an appointment using our new online scheduling tool up to seven days in advance. This reduces wait time and limits the number of guests in our lobby.
- Visit MyTPU.org/Appt.
- Select your preferred language.
- Select your preferred date and time.
- Enter your email and phone number.
- Save the appointment confirmation and QR code sent to you via email.
- Check-in up to 10 minutes early at our lobby kiosk on the day of your appointment using your confirmation code.
- Watch for a text message when an agent is ready to assist you.
For electrical permitting and water construction and development, payments can be submitted online, by phone, and via our drop box. View more information online here.
To speak with staff about residential energy conservation, call 253-502-8363.
To speak with staff about water conservation, call 253-502-8723.
Check back for updates about when in-person appointments will be available for other departments.
Our lobby looks different, but you’ll receive the same excellent service
We commit to your safety and the safety of our staff. When you visit you will notice new processes to ensure safety through social distancing. Face coverings are required in the TPU building, even if you are fully vaccinated.
Rental Assistance Available in Pierce County
Pierce County Human Services and the City of Tacoma have received funding for rental and utility assistance for tenants impacted by COVID-19 and who are behind on rent or utilities.
These funds apply to both past due rent and past due utilities, and will be distributed by Pierce County on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here to learn how residential customers who rent qualify for the funds and where they can apply.
We offer several options for payment assistance and will work with you to develop payment arrangements. We’ve extended our due date from 15 days to 12 weeks and can waive late fees. TPU customers who are having trouble paying their bills should contact Customer Service at 253-502-8600 or 800-752-6745 and ask about extended payment plans. The department is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Looking for other support resources?
The U.S. federal government offers assistance through its Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). It is designed to help qualifying, low-income households meet their immediate home energy needs. If you are a City of Tacoma resident, you can learn more on the Metropolitan Development Council’s website. If you live outside of Tacoma but in Pierce County, you can learn more on the Pierce County Human Services website. Note: Additional funding may be available due to COVID-19. If you have already received LIHEAP funding this year, you could still be eligible for the additional funds. Contact one of the organizations above for further details.
If you do not qualify for our program or would like to explore other options, we recommend visiting WashingtonConnection.org.
Resources for Businesses
We know this has been a tough time on our small business community. Business customers can qualify for extended payment plans and waived late fees. The Mayor has also suspended disconnections for all customers, including businesses. Here are more resources available to help.
Tacoma Power Parks
Individual campsites, and individual campsite reservations, are open at all four Tacoma Power Parks. Learn more about what to expect at MyTPU.org/Parks.
New precautions for home visits
If you are scheduling a home visit with Tacoma Public Utilities, our dispatchers and field staff will be taking extra precautions to curb the spread of the virus both to our customers and our employees. We will call you before visiting to confirm whether it is safe for us to keep or reschedule our appointment.
Drinking water is safe
You can continue to drink and use tap water. There is no evidence that coronaviruses are transmitted through drinking water. Tacoma Water’s treatment methods, that use filtration and disinfection, remove and inactivate harmful bacteria and viruses. The Washington State Department of Health is working to keep everyone informed about continuing developments regarding COVID-19, including drinking water. For more information, visit EPA.gov/Coronavirus.
More information
For up-to-date information about the City of Tacoma’s response to COVID-19, visit CityofTacoma.org/Coronavirus.
For more information about local preparations for COVID-19, visit the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department website.