FPL to provide relief for customers behind on their bills

Florida Power & Light Company is providing relief to customers significantly behind on their bills due to the pandemic.

Residential and small business customers may be eligible for a bill credit of up to $200 based on the status of their account and how long the account has been past due. Eligible customers will need to pay their total outstanding balance, net of the bill credit, to get the relief. So, for example, an eligible customer who has a total outstanding balance of $600 would need to pay $400 to qualify for the maximum one-time credit of $200.

“We’re all in this together, and FPL remains committed to doing everything we can to support customers experiencing hardship as a result of COVID-19,” FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy said. “The Florida Public Service Commission has been very supportive of our efforts to provide assistance to customers during this difficult time. Accelerating the return of deposit money to customers who have been able to pay their bills and offering direct relief to customers significantly behind on their bills is another example of FPL’s continued commitment to finding ways to help support customers experiencing hardship and ensuring we’re meeting the needs of all of our more than 5.1 million customers.”

FPL has filed for permission with the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) for this request and has requested expedited approval.

“Some customers struggling during these challenging times have continued to fulfill their personal responsibility for their FPL bill,” Silagy said. “Given these unique circumstances, we believe returning deposits now is the right thing to do, a good way to get more money back in their pockets faster and a great benefit to Florida’s economy.”

In addition, FPL officials say that federal funding remains available to help customers pay utility bills. Funding for Florida’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has increased nearly 60 percent due to the pandemic, and FPL estimates more than $30 million in LIHEAP funding is still available to its customers. Further, customers can apply for available CARES Act money that’s been distributed to communities across the state.

Florida Power & Light Company serves more than 5.1 million customers in the state of Florida.