Tijuana’s state water utility CESPT (Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana) is reminding customers that two active debt forgiveness decrees can wipe out overdue water bills or sharply reduce penalties. The decrees, issued by Baja California Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda, remain in effect for residents who have fallen behind on payments.
CESPT staff will hold in-person assistance sessions at two locations in early July. The El Florido office will host walk-in consultations on Tuesday, July 7, and the Mariano Matamoros office will follow on Friday, July 10. Both sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Who Qualifies for Full Debt Cancellation
The social decree provides 100% cancellation of all outstanding charges for vulnerable populations. That includes consumption fees, connection fees, surcharges, fines, and drainage costs. To qualify, customers must fall into one of the following categories: adults aged 60 or older, widows over 50, people with disabilities, retirees, or single-income heads of household with minor children.
For those who qualify, the decree erases the entire balance. No partial payment is required.
General Decree Cuts Surcharges for All Users
A separate general decree applies to all other CESPT customers with overdue accounts. Under this decree, customers who pay their full outstanding balance receive a 100% discount on surcharges. Those who prefer to set up a payment plan still receive a 75% reduction on surcharges.
Surcharges in the CESPT billing system accumulate monthly on unpaid balances and can grow to exceed the original water consumption charges. Eliminating or reducing them can represent significant savings, particularly for accounts that have been delinquent for several months or years.
How to Take Advantage of the Decrees
CESPT operates offices across Tijuana and Playas de Rosarito where customers can check their account status and apply. The upcoming sessions at El Florido and Mariano Matamoros are specifically staffed to walk customers through the application process for either decree.
Customers should bring a valid ID and their most recent water bill or account number. Those applying under the social decree will need documentation proving eligibility, such as proof of age, disability certification, or pension records.
The decrees are part of a broader state government effort to help families regularize their accounts and reduce financial strain from accumulated utility debt. No expiration date has been publicly announced for either decree, but CESPT has urged customers to act while both remain active.
This story was first reported by Jornada BC.