Coliban Water has given more than $1 million to customers struggling to pay bills, including about $570,000 through the Coliban Assist program.
Coliban Water customer and stakeholder experience executive general manager Lauren McLean said the initiative had lent a hand to about 3000 customers in the past year.
“Our Coliban Assist program is the backbone of our customer support focus and strives to ensure any customer facing hardship can get a leg up,” Ms McLean said.
“It is designed to save water, time and money for our customers and in the last 12 months alone we’ve supported approximately 3000 customers in this way.”
The program offers a range of services, including plumber assist, leak detection, concessions, bill smoothing and payment matching.
Eligible customers can also receive free water audits and if there are any issues, the plumber can complete minor repairs such as adjusting leaking taps, replacing old shower heads or fixing inefficient toilets.
The remaining funds were distributed through utility relief grants for those in dire financial positions.
Anyone experiencing any payment concerns or family violence are encouraged to speak with Coliban Water’s customer support team on 1300 363 200.
More information is also available online at coliban.com.au/coliban-assist