Senate Bill 998 (SB 998) Discontinuation of Residential Water Service for Nonpayment

On the Senate Act 998 (SB 998)

SB 998 provides that a customer must be at least 60-days delinquent in payment of a utility bill before the water provider may terminate his or her services. This 60-day requirement before discontinuation of water service will apply to all of the City’s residential utility customers.

Resolution of the City Council

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Frequent questions


What is the SB 998?

Senate Bill 998 (SB 998), signed into law in September 2018 and is referred to as “The Water Shutoff Protection Act”, sets new restrictions on residential water service termination for nonpayment of a water utility bill.

SB 998 requires all public water systems to have a written policy on water service discontinuation for nonpayment which must also be available in several languages. Specifically, the provisions of the bill require the adoption of a written policy. The policy would be applicable to all residential water customers which will result in expanded notification procedures prior to service shut off for nonpayment.

How SB 998 customers Patterson impact of water?

The City currently allows 48 days prior to shut-off for nonpayment; the bill requires the City to extend the number of days of delinquency before it shuts off service to 60 days.

This 60-day requirement before discontinuation of water service will apply to all of the City’s residential utility customers. Additionally, the bill prohibits discontinuation of water service if all of the following conditions are met:

  • A primary care provider certifies that discontinuation will be life-threatening or poses a serious threat to the health and safety of a resident on the premises where service is provided; and
  • A customer demonstrates he or she is financially unable to pay; and
  • A customer is willing to enter an amortization agreement, alternative payment schedule, or plan for a deferred or reduced payment.

SB 998 when you take effect?

The City must comply with SB 998 on 1 February 2020.

Reporting requirements

City of Patterson will be required to report the number of annual outages residential water inability to pay on its website and to report this information to the State Board of Water Resources Control ( "Board"), where the Board also publish on its website the information reported to the Board for urban water suppliers.

Where can I find a copy of the Policy closing SB 998 Water City?

The City’s water shutoff policy is available here.

Contacting customer care

The following contact information is provided for account inquiries or to discuss options for averting discontinuation of water service for nonpayment:

Customer service Address:

1 Plaza, 1st Floor, Patterson, CA 95363

Lobby Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Phone numbers and web address:

Customer service: (209) 895-8040

Fax: (209) 895-8059

E-mail:   financeub@ci.patterson.ca .us

Website: https://www.ci.patterson.ca.us

Annual Report Residential water service disconnections for nonpayment  (The total number of disconnections for Calendar year 2020 will be available January 2021).