JUNO BEACH, Fla., Oct. 29, 2024 — Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has requested approval from the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) for a temporary surcharge on customer bills starting in 2025. This measure is to recover the significant costs incurred from restoring power after four hurricanes impacted Florida within a span of just 14 months. For customers looking to manage their bills efficiently during this period, understanding options like Fpl Pay Online becomes increasingly important.
The Necessity of a Temporary Surcharge
The petition to the PSC outlines the need to recoup restoration expenses from Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton, all of which affected Florida in the current year. Additionally, FPL is seeking to replenish its storm reserve fund by $150 million. This reserve was significantly depleted by Hurricane Idalia in the previous year and further exhausted by Hurricane Debby in August. If the PSC approves this request, FPL aims to recover approximately $1.2 billion. This would translate to an estimated increase of $12.02 per month for a typical residential customer using 1,000-kWh, effective from January through December of the coming year.
Recent Hurricanes and Rapid Response
Florida has faced a series of severe weather events. Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 storm, struck in August 2023. This year saw Category 1 Hurricane Debby in August, followed by Category 4 Hurricane Helene and Category 3 Hurricane Milton within two weeks of each other in September and October. These four hurricanes collectively caused over 3 million power outages for FPL customers, with damaging winds, storm surges, and in the case of Hurricane Milton, multiple powerful tornadoes.
In response to each hurricane, FPL mobilized thousands of restoration workers from across the United States, strategically positioning them to expedite recovery efforts. These crews worked tirelessly around the clock to restore power to all affected customers as quickly as possible. FPL’s continuous investment in strengthening and modernizing the energy grid played a crucial role, preventing nearly 900,000 potential outages and facilitating faster restoration times.
Key Restoration Numbers
- Total Outages: Over 3 million
- Restoration Workforce: More than 52,000 personnel
- Outages Avoided by Smart Grid: Approximately 900,000
Restoration Timeline:
- Hurricane Idalia (2023, Category 3): Restoration essentially complete in 1 day
- Hurricane Debby (2024, Category 1): Restoration essentially complete in 1 day
- Hurricane Helene (2024, Category 4): Restoration essentially complete in 3 days
- Hurricane Milton (2024, Category 3): Restoration essentially complete in 5 days
CEO Statement on Commitment to Customers
Armando Pimentel, President and CEO of FPL, stated, “FPL was deeply committed to restoring power rapidly for our customers following each of these hurricanes. We understand that customers bear these restoration expenses, which is why we are dedicated to ongoing investments in storm hardening and smart grid technology. This strategy minimizes outages, accelerates restoration processes, and reduces overall restoration costs, helping our customers and the Florida economy recover more swiftly – from reopening schools to restarting businesses.”
Understanding Your Bill and FPL Pay Online Options
Even with the proposed temporary surcharge, FPL anticipates that customer bills in 2025 will remain significantly lower than the national average. This is important context as customers consider how to manage their utility expenses. One efficient method to stay on top of your bills and manage payments is to fpl pay online.
| Typical 1,000-kWh Residential Customer Bill | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| FPL | FPL Northwest | ||
| Current | Jan. 2025 (Proposed) | Current | |
| Bill Amount | $121.19 | $133.99 | $135.38 |
| Note: Jan. 2025 bill includes proposed storm surcharge and other annual adjustments. |
Why a 12-Month Surcharge Period?
In Florida, typical electric bills do not include provisions for hurricane and tropical storm response costs. Instead, temporary surcharges are implemented after such events to cover these expenses. Choosing a 12-month surcharge period, rather than extending it over a longer duration, is intended to minimize the risk of overlapping surcharges if Florida experiences further storms in 2025.
Managing Your FPL Bill Online
In light of these potential surcharges, leveraging FPL pay online offers a convenient and efficient way to manage your utility expenses. FPL’s online platform allows customers to:
- View and Understand Bills: Access detailed billing information to understand charges, including any surcharges.
- Make Secure Payments: Pay your bill securely from your computer or mobile device using various payment methods.
- Set Up Payment Arrangements: Explore options for payment plans if needed.
- Manage Account Details: Update contact information and manage other account settings.
- Go Paperless: Opt for paperless billing to reduce clutter and contribute to environmental sustainability.
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By using FPL pay online, customers can proactively manage their accounts, stay informed about billing changes, and ensure timely payments, even with the temporary surcharge in place. This digital tool empowers customers to maintain control over their energy expenses and interact with FPL services efficiently.
FPL: Committed to Reliability and Customer Service
Florida Power & Light Company, as the largest electric utility in the United States, is dedicated to providing clean, affordable, and reliable electricity to approximately 5.9 million accounts, serving over 12 million individuals. FPL operates one of the most fuel-efficient and cleanest power generation fleets nationwide. The company’s consistent reliability is underscored by accolades such as the ReliabilityOne® National Reliability Award, which FPL has won seven times in the last nine years. Furthermore, FPL has been recognized by Escalent as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities for nine consecutive years. FPL is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a leader in clean energy and recognized for its commitment to sustainability, ethics, and corporate responsibility.
For further information about NextEra Energy companies, please visit: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.
SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company
