Bill > S1576

This bill establishes new protections against residential utility disconnections by electric, public, and water utilities, defining an "extreme weather event" as a danger to life or property from conditions like hurricanes or flooding, and a "forecasted heat index" as how hot it will feel considering humidity. Utilities are prohibited from disconnecting service for nonpayment if the forecasted heat index is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above for over three consecutive hours, if the forecasted temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below for over three consecutive hours, or during a declared state of emergency for an extreme weather or public health event, with disconnections resuming 24 hours after the emergency is lifted or 60 days after it was declared, whichever is shorter. Furthermore, utilities must waive reconnection and late fees if the heat index is 90 degrees Fahrenheit or above or the temperature is 32 degrees Fahrenheit or below on the day of disconnection, and they must use the National Weather Service's forecast for the customer's zip code to determine these conditions. Disconnections are also forbidden on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, state holidays, or the day before a state holiday, and utilities cannot charge customers for expenses incurred in complying with these new rules. Utilities must provide customers with their disconnection policy upon establishing a new account, with any scheduled disconnection notice, and by publishing it on their website, with electric utilities specifically required to alert customers about suspensions of disconnections due to extreme heat, cold, or weather events. All nonpayment notices must offer bill payment assistance or information on available programs, and service cannot be disconnected until an account is at least 60 days past due, though utilities can voluntarily suspend disconnections for customer health, safety, or service reliability, and this bill also outlines penalties for violations, including damages and attorney fees, and waives sovereign immunity for these purposes.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1576