WILLEMSTAD – Families in Curaçao who have lost access to water or electricity because of unpaid bills may qualify for reconnection and debt relief under a new government program launched by the Ministry of Social Development, Labor and Welfare (SOAW) in cooperation with utility company Aqualectra. The initiative, called Keda Konektá, also offers financial guidance and assistance to help households avoid falling into debt again.
The program was officially introduced on October 26, 2026, under the responsibility of SOAW Minister Charetti America-Francisca. It is intended to support households experiencing financial hardship, particularly those struggling with outstanding utility bills or prolonged disconnections.
Aqualectra CEO Neysa Isenia
Unlike previous temporary assistance initiatives, Keda Konektá is designed as a permanent support program that combines financial relief with household budget management and responsible consumption of water and electricity.
According to SOAW, the ministry has provided assistance to low-income households for many years through financial support, mediation, intervention, guidance, and subsidies for water and electricity.
However, experience has shown that some families continue to accumulate unpaid bills despite receiving assistance, placing them at risk of disconnection or leaving them without essential utilities.
Neysa Isenia (Aqualectra), Charetti America-Fransisca (Minister of Welfare), Shalten Hato (Minister of Justice) and Charles Cooper (Minister of Finance)
The new program aims to address those recurring problems rather than simply providing temporary financial relief.
Eligible households may have their water and electricity services reconnected, while outstanding utility debts will be assessed and addressed as part of the assistance process.
In certain cases, including households receiving social assistance or earning a minimum income, the program may allow outstanding utility debts to be fully settled.
Participants who qualify will also receive utility subsidies from SOAW in accordance with existing legislation to help cover their monthly water and electricity expenses.
An important feature of Keda Konektá is the introduction of Aqualectra's Smart Prepaid Meters for participating households.
Under the program, all participants will be connected or reconnected through prepaid meters for water and electricity.
These meters allow households to monitor their consumption and decide how much credit to purchase and when to recharge their accounts.
Unlike traditional billing arrangements, where customers receive an invoice after consuming utilities, the prepaid system allows participants to track their spending more directly.
SOAW and Aqualectra believe this approach will help families manage their household budgets more effectively and prevent new utility debts from accumulating.
The initiative builds on the experience of the Pasku di Bida pilot project, implemented between late 2024 and early 2025.
While that project operated for a limited period, Keda Konektá is intended to provide structural, long-term assistance to as many eligible households as possible.
Participating families will receive guidance over a three-year period, focusing on responsible utility consumption, financial independence, household budgeting, and compliance with payment arrangements.
The ministry emphasized that the success of the program will also depend on the commitment of participating households to monitor their consumption and recharge their prepaid meters on time.
Minister America-Francisca said the initiative reflects a broader approach to assisting financially vulnerable families.
"Water and electricity are basic necessities. With Keda Konektá, we want to go beyond simply helping to pay a bill. We want to help families escape a situation of continuous payment problems and prevent them from ending up in the same situation again," the minister stated.
"That is why we are combining financial assistance with guidance and personal responsibility. We are extending a helping hand, but we are working together with families and Aqualectra toward a lasting solution."
The ministry stressed that Keda Konektá represents an opportunity for participating households to move from financial uncertainty toward greater stability.
However, it also emphasized that families must take responsibility for using water and electricity carefully, monitoring consumption, and maintaining sufficient prepaid credit.
Households interested in participating can submit their applications through the official website, https://kedakonekta.cw/.
SOAW and Aqualectra will assess each application according to the program's eligibility requirements and inform applicants about the next steps.
Residents who need additional information or assistance completing their applications can visit SOAW's neighborhood offices, known as Kas di Bario.
The ministry described Keda Konektá as both a helping hand and a shared responsibility, emphasizing that long-term financial stability requires cooperation between the government, Aqualectra, and the households receiving assistance.