Coronavirus: SUEZ Waives Late Fees For Water Customers

As the new coronavirus outbreak continues, SUEZ North America is adding to the list of measures taken to help out customers who are strapped financially due to the economic shutdown.

Company officials announced Tuesday that SUEZ has waived late bill fees for all customers until further notice. The company previously announced its intention to suspend service shutoffs for non-payment until further notice and to reconnect customers recently disconnected.

SUEZ serves more than 500,000 customers in Rockland, Westchester, Orange and Putnam counties.

"We understand the tremendous financial hardship this pandemic has caused,” Nadine Leslie, CEO of SUEZ North America, said in a statement. “We are living in unprecedented times and these additional actions we’re taking on late fees are another way to help the most vulnerable among our customers. It’s the right thing to do."

SUEZ, which provides water and wastewater services to approximately 7 million people, offers assistance programs for customers struggling to pay their water bills and will continue to offer them for the duration of this crisis. Customers are encouraged to contact their local customer service centers to set up payment plans.

The SUEZCares program, established a decade ago, helps eligible customers pay their water bills through grants.

SUEZ offices are closed to the public for the duration of the crisis. Customers who pay their bills in person at SUEZ offices must now pay their bills online, by mail, by phone or at third party payment centers.

In addition, SUEZ has suspended all customer field service appointments, including in-person meter readings and any installation of automated meter infrastructure, until further notice. Field staff will only perform emergency or critical work.

“We have all been affected by this global health crisis in different ways,” said Leslie.