summary
Introduced
01/27/2025
01/27/2025
In Committee
02/03/2025
02/03/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to residential utility disconnections; creating s. 366.043, F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting an electric utility, a public utility, or a water utility from disconnecting service to residential customers for nonpayment of bills or fees under specified circumstances; requiring such utilities to waive reconnection fees and late fees in certain circumstances; requiring such utilities to refer to the National Weather Service for the forecasted heat index and forecasted temperatures; prohibiting such utilities from disconnecting service to residential customers for nonpayment of bills or fees on specified days; prohibiting such utilities from recovering from customers any fee or expense incurred in complying with the act; requiring such utilities to provide, in a specified manner, their policy for disconnection for nonpayment to residential customers; requiring an electric utility to publish alerts informing residential customers of certain disconnection suspensions; specifying language requirements for such notice; requiring such utilities to deliver notice of nonpayment of bills or fees to residential customers within a specified timeframe using specified methods of notice and including certain information; prohibiting such utilities from disconnecting service for nonpayment of bills and fees until an account is past due by at least a specified number of days; providing construction; authorizing such utilities to voluntarily suspend disconnections in order to protect the health and safety of customers and the reliability of services; providing penalties and remedies; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill establishes new regulations for electric, public, and water utilities regarding residential utility disconnections, focusing on protecting customers during extreme weather conditions and financial hardship. The legislation prohibits utilities from disconnecting service to residential customers during periods of high heat (90 degrees Fahrenheit or above), extremely cold temperatures (32 degrees Fahrenheit or below), or during declared states of emergency. Utilities must waive reconnection and late fees under certain temperature conditions and are required to use the National Weather Service forecasts to determine disconnection eligibility. The bill mandates that utilities provide disconnection policies to customers in English and Spanish (and potentially other languages), deliver multiple forms of notice before disconnection, and wait at least 60 days after an account becomes past due before disconnecting service. Utilities must also include information about payment assistance programs in their notices. If a utility violates these provisions, they can be liable for damages up to $1,000 or actual damages, whichever is greater, and may be subject to court costs and attorney fees. The law is designed to protect vulnerable residential customers from sudden utility service interruptions during challenging weather or financial circumstances, with the provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2025.
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Died in Regulated Industries (on 06/16/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/330 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/330/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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