Newark, NJ—August 1, 2022— Mayor Ras J. Baraka and Water and Sewer Utilities Director Kareem Adeem today announced that the City of Newark has partnered with Promise to offer customers an easy and convenient way to set up interest-free payment plans for past-due residential Water and Sewer Utilities charges. Customers who enroll in a payment plan for their outstanding balance will be protected from negative consequences like water shutoffs as long as they stay current on their plan.

The new program will be available beginning today, Monday, August 1, to the city’s residents who owe money on their Newark Water and Sewer Utilities accounts.

“Many residents have been impacted by COVID-19 and the rising costs of living caused by inflation,” said Mayor Baraka. “We are working to help residents who are falling behind and the PromisePay program will offer affordable water payment options to prevent them from facing service shutoff. If successful, we see this pilot program becoming a long-term option for residents in need, providing them with a safety net.”

The PromisePay Portal will offer the opportunity to select a payment plan option, set up automatic payments, and provide contact information for payment reminders and other notifications through text messaging. Both property owners and tenants will be eligible to use the PromisePay Portal if they have a past due balance.

“We are proud that the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities team has been able to assist our residents with this important program. We are living in challenging times, and our residents need relief,” Director Adeem said. “This program is a creative response to these challenges.”

“We’re excited to partner with City of Newark Mayor Baraka and the Department of Water and Sewer Utilities Director Adeem to make sure that city residents continue to have access to water,” said Promise Founder and CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins.“Through our partnership, residents will use PromisePay to have flexible, accessible options to keep their water on. We look forward to the good we can do for Newark’s residents in partnership with these visionary leaders.”

Promise has partnered with utilities in cities including Louisville, Cincinnati, and Richmond, to offer payment plans to tens of thousands of customers and to help efficiently distribute millions of dollars of relief money.

The PromisePay Portal provides a comprehensive payment platform, which includes:

• Options to enroll to set up payment plans online, by mobile phone, or call center.
• Convenient payment types (credit/debit card, ACH, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Venmo).
• Text reminders and notifications.
• Payment flexibility and plan management with options to request a one-time due-date extension, modify due dates, and change payment methods.

To learn more about the program and enroll, visit: http://waterandsewer.newarknj.gov/promisepay

About Promise

Promise simplifies government debt and helps people pay their bills. They partner with utilities and government agencies to offer a variety of convenient and flexible payment options, including zero-interest installment plans and relief distribution. Promise uses sophisticated outreach methods that make it easy for customers to sign up and manage their debt. Ultimately, Promise’s technology maximizes government revenue while helping customers pay off debt sooner and with fewer penalties.

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For more information on the City of Newark, please visit our website at www.newarknj.gov

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