A Total of 431 Clients Continue the Process for Long-Term Assistance with Water and Electricity
WILLEMSTAD – On Wednesday, March 19, the first group of Pasku di Bida Phase 2 clients signed their contracts, allowing them to move forward with resolving their outstanding debts with Aqualectra and reconnecting their water and electricity services.
Between February 12 and 22, 2025, Aqualectra, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development, Labor, and Welfare (SOAW), reopened applications for Phase 2 of the Pasku di Bida program. Through this initiative, Aqualectra and SOAW aim to support households that have been disconnected for an extended period or have significant outstanding water and electricity bills.
As promised in the Phase 2 communication, all individuals who applied for the program received a response to their application by the week of March 15.
Application and Selection Process
A total of 860 individuals applied for assistance during this second phase of Pasku di Bida. Of those, 315 met all the necessary requirements and were provided with further instructions on how to proceed.
Additionally, individuals who had previously been identified during Pasku di Bida Phase 1 were given another opportunity to apply. From this group, 116 people submitted applications during the second phase.
In Phase 1, Aqualectra and SOAW had identified around 1,000 households that had been disconnected for more than 30 days and had significant outstanding debts. For Phase 2, the eligibility criteria were expanded to include customers with an income below ANG 2,500 and outstanding debts of over ANG 5,000 in water and/or electricity bills.
All eligible clients received an appointment to finalize their request. During this meeting, each client:
Reviewed their financial situation and agreed on a plan to address their debt.
Learned about the process for reconnecting their water and electricity services through Aqualectra’s smart prepaid system.
Signed a contract outlining all terms of the agreement.
Aqualectra is making every effort to restore services as quickly as possible for all customers who are currently without water and electricity, once their contracts have been signed.
Support Beyond Debt Relief
Unfortunately, some applicants did not qualify after the evaluation process. This was due to factors such as:
Not meeting all program requirements.
Not being registered as an Aqualectra customer.
Being registered as commercial (business) clients instead of residential customers.
Beyond simply reconnecting services and settling debts, Aqualectra and SOAW recognize the importance of long-term financial stability for clients. That is why they have organized mandatory courses and training sessions, as part of the Pasku di Bida program. These courses teach participants how to:
Better manage their finances.
Use and maintain Aqualectra’s smart prepaid system for water and electricity.
Through this initiative, Aqualectra and SOAW aim to help households become more stable and financially independent, ensuring they can continue to afford their essential utilities in the long run.