Leak relief and household assistance

A high water bill may have a path to review

Hidden plumbing failures can produce an alarming bill before the problem is visible. This guide separates what City of Gilroy Utilities Department – Utility Billing publicly describes from the practical steps every customer can take while requesting help.

Provider-specific review

What the public record says about a leak adjustment

Gilroy does not publish a fixed high-bill leak-credit formula, repair-receipt requirement, maximum credit, or mandatory baseline calculation. The City directs customers with suspected leaks to check fixtures, irrigation, hose bibs, valves, water softeners, and other common sources, and to call Water Conservation staff at (408) 478-0061 if the issue remains. Beginning May 2026, AquaTrax provides near-real-time hourly/day/billing-cycle use views, leak alerts, and usage notifications. Customers should preserve meter data, photographs, and repair invoices and ask Utility Billing whether an account-specific review is available; no automatic customer-side bill adjustment is guaranteed.

Stop the loss

Shut off the failing fixture or supply and arrange a qualified repair.

Keep proof

Save dated invoices, parts receipts, photographs, and meter readings.

Request review

Submit the request promptly and keep paying any undisputed amount.

Utility assistance

Customer assistance and eligibility

Gilroy offers a senior low-income water discount to customers age 62 or older who qualify for the PG&E CARE program. The current July 2026 service form states that the discount exempts the monthly water base charge and the first 5,000 gallons per month; the service address and account-holder name must match the PG&E account, and customers should contact Utility Billing with the PG&E CARE proof and photo ID. No separate disabled-veteran cap or broader City water-credit cap is published. SB 998 also protects qualifying medically vulnerable, financially unable households through payment arrangements rather than a fixed credit.

State and federal connections

Where to ask for broader aid

The City’s utility and assistance pages provide local utility-billing contact information and reference alternative payment arrangements under SB 998, while California’s Low Income Household Water Assistance Program may be available through state assistance channels. Customers should check California Department of Community Services and Development assistance resources at https://www.csd.ca.gov/find-assistance and coordinate any award with Gilroy Utility Billing at (408) 846-0420. The accessible City pages do not publish a city-run LIHWAP application, charity posting workflow, or maximum state-aid credit.

Research status for this provider

4 of 4 relief signals publicly identified

Verify with official provider ↗

Emergency route

Published detail

Leak policy

Published detail

Utility aid

Published detail

State/federal aid

Published detail

Leak and assistance notes

Build the file before asking City of Gilroy Utilities Department – Utility Billing for relief

A high bill can have several causes, including a hidden plumbing failure, irrigation use, a meter issue, a change in occupancy, or a rate adjustment. The provider’s leak policy determines whether any credit is available; an unusually high bill does not automatically qualify.

Keep a dated record of the reading, the suspected source, the repair, the contractor or parts receipt, and the return to normal use. Ask whether the utility requires a specific form, a licensed repair, a meter test, photos, or a request within a fixed number of days.

For income-related difficulty, ask about local assistance, payment arrangements, state programs, and community referrals separately from a leak adjustment. These programs often use different applications, documents, funding limits, and deadlines.

Return to utility profile →Review shut-off protection →Open payment methods →