Affordability/Equity

Affordability/Equity

The EFC works with communities and states across the country to address a variety of environmental finance challenges concerning affordability and equity. Through applied research, educational forums, and one-on-one assistance, the EFC helps utilities and government officials better understand the impact that financial charges have on people, the criteria used to offer financial assistance to communities in most need, as well as provide tools and resources to assist in addressing community and customer affordability issues.

The EFC works at the regional, state, and individual utility level on affordability and equity issues. Through direct advising and water finance education events, the EFC provides assistance and education to utilities to help them better understand their community’s demographics, how certain segments of their community may be disproportionately impacted, and how to make decisions that address these issues in an equitable manner.

The EFC has developed statewide assessments and benchmarking tools at the state level to determine and track affordability metrics and challenges over time across regions. Additionally, the EFC assists states in understanding how they are or how they hope to prioritize affordability in their funding programs.