summary
Introduced
02/05/2025
02/05/2025
In Committee
02/12/2025
02/12/2025
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; hb419-00 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 creates new regulations for electric, public, and water utilities regarding residential utility disconnections in Florida. The bill prohibits utilities from disconnecting service to residential customers during extreme weather conditions, such as when the heat index is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit or temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or during a declared state of emergency. Utilities must waive reconnection and late fees under certain temperature conditions and are required to refer to the National Weather Service for weather forecasts. The bill mandates that utilities cannot disconnect service on weekends, holidays, or the day before a holiday, and must not disconnect service until an account is at least 60 days past due. Utilities must provide their disconnection policies to customers when establishing new accounts and before potential disconnection, and must publish these policies on their websites. Notices must be provided in English and Spanish (and potentially other languages based on local population demographics), and must include information about payment assistance programs. The bill allows utilities to voluntarily suspend disconnections to protect customer health and safety, and establishes penalties for utilities that illegally disconnect service, including potential damages of $1,000 or actual consequential damages, whichever is greater. The new regulations will take effect on July 1, 2025, providing utilities time to prepare for the new requirements.
Committee Categories
Business and Industry
Sponsors (6)
Debra Tendrich (D)*,
Kevin Chambliss (D),
Anna Eskamani (D),
Mike Gottlieb (D),
Rita Harris (D),
Marie Woodson (D),
Last Action
Died in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee (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/2025/419 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/419/BillText/Filed/PDF |
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