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Low Income Rate Assistance Program - Nevada Irrigation District
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Low Income Rate Assistance Program - Nevada Irrigation District

Phone number
530-273-6185 – NID Customer Service 2-1-1 – Local utility‑bill assistance hotline
Category
Home
Auto tags
Low Income
Water Bill Assistance
Nevada Irrigation District
Nevada County
Placer County
Yuba County
Eligibility
Residents of single‑family homes in Nevada, Placer, or Yuba County with at least one household member enrolled in Medi‑Cal/Medicaid (Families A & B), SSI, CARE utility discount, or BIA General Assistance.
Auto Summary
The Low Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRA) from Nevada Irrigation District provides a flat $9.50 monthly discount on treated‑water bills for qualifying single‑family residential customers in Nevada, Placer, or Yuba County who have a household member enrolled in specific aid programs; applicants must submit proof and reapply annually, and the discount does not apply to irrigation‑only accounts or renters whose landlord pays the bill.
Value
Flat $9.50/month off treated (drinking) water — one yearly application
Espanol
Descuento fijo de $9.50 al mes en el agua potable (tratada) de NID — una solicitud al año. Califica si la cuenta está a su nombre (casa unifamiliar en los condados de Nevada, Placer o Yuba) y alguien en su hogar tiene Medi-Cal (Familias A y B), SSI, CARE o Asistencia General de BIA. No es automático: llame al 530-273-6185 para pedir la solicitud.
URL
https://www.nidwater.com/low-income-rate-assistance-program
Last verified 2026-07-01 — the dollar figure below was re-verified against NID's own LIRA application PDF (TechEmpower fact-check corpus; this program also appears in the techempower.org/qualify screener). Note: an earlier version of this page said "one-third off the base rate" — that was wrong. The discount is a flat $9.50/month.
The Nevada Irrigation District (NID) Low Income Rate Assistance Program (LIRA) takes a flat $9.50 per month off your treated (drinking) water bill. If you live in a single-family home in Nevada, Placer, or Yuba County and someone in your household is on one of a few aid programs, you likely qualify — but you must apply, and you must reapply once a year.

Who qualifies

You can get LIRA if all of these are true:
  • You are an NID treated-water (drinking water) residential customer and the bill is in your name.
  • You live in a single-family home in Nevada, Placer, or Yuba County.
  • At least one person in your household is enrolled in one of these programs:
    • Medi-Cal / Medicaid (Families A & B)
    • Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
    • CARE (the PG&E or other utility low-income gas/electric discount)
    • Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance
[Source: NID LIRA application PDF (verified 2026-07-01)]

What you get

  • A flat $9.50/month discount on your treated-water bill, every month while you're enrolled.
  • It's a fixed dollar amount, not a percentage of your bill.
  • Raw-water (irrigation-only) accounts are not covered — the discount is for treated residential service.
[Source: NID LIRA application PDF (verified 2026-07-01)]

How to apply

  1. Get the application. Download the LIRA application from NID's website (the "Low Income Rate Assistance Program" page links to the PDF), or call NID and ask them to mail one to you.
  1. Gather proof of enrollment. You'll need a current letter, card, or benefit statement showing you (or someone in your household) is on Medi-Cal, SSI, CARE, or BIA General Assistance.
  1. Fill out the form. Include your NID account number — it's on any recent water bill.
  1. Submit it to NID. Return the application and proof by mail, in person at the NID office, or by the method listed on the form.
  1. Reapply every year. LIRA is a one-year enrollment — put a reminder on your calendar so the discount doesn't lapse.
If you need help filling it out, call NID Customer Service at 530-273-6185.

Common pitfalls

  • You have to apply — it isn't automatic. Being on Medi-Cal or SSI doesn't trigger the discount on its own.
  • It's $9.50/month, flat. If someone tells you it's "a third off your bill," that's an old error — don't budget around it.
  • Renters whose landlord pays the water bill can't get LIRA directly. The account must be in the name of the person applying.
  • Only single-family homes qualify. Apartments and most multi-family buildings are excluded under the current program rules.
  • It expires yearly. Reapply each year to keep the discount.

If you also need help paying past-due bills

LIRA lowers your ongoing bill, but it doesn't erase arrears. The federal water-bill program (LIHWAP) ended March 31, 2024 and has no successor as of mid-2026 — don't wait on it. Instead, ask NID Customer Service about payment plans, and dial 2-1-1 for current local utility-bill help.

Where to get help

  • NID Customer Service: 530-273-6185
  • NID office (Grass Valley): 1036 W. Main Street, Grass Valley, CA 95945

Sources