The DC Water Billing and Disconnection Modernization Amendment Act of 2025 aims to reform the practices of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (DC Water) to enhance tenant protections and ensure accountability among property owners. Key provisions include a detailed timeline for billing and delinquency notifications, requiring DC Water to notify both property owners and tenants when an account becomes delinquent. The bill mandates waiting periods before disconnections, prohibits service disconnections during extreme weather, and allows tenants in master-metered buildings to receive water service in their own name. Additionally, it introduces an amnesty program for responsible parties with outstanding balances, offering options for fee waivers and payment plans.

To improve transparency, the legislation requires DC Water to provide notices of delinquent accounts to various District agencies and submit monthly reports on disconnections. It updates the process for initiating liens on properties with delinquent charges and adds DC Water to the list of agencies subject to language access requirements for disconnection notices. The bill also establishes that tenants can enter into agreements with DC Water for continued service if the property owner's account is delinquent, and it introduces customer incentive programs for responsible parties. Furthermore, it mandates itemized billing, prohibits service termination during extreme temperature forecasts, and allows for the imposition of late payment charges while providing a framework for disputing bills. Overall, the legislation seeks to balance timely payment collection with the protection of vulnerable residents from abrupt service disconnections.