Starting Aug. 1, JEA will suspend customer disconnections of electric and water service due to delinquent payments and waive newly accrued late fees. These relief measures are part of a broader plan to help address high utility bills due to increased fuel costs and higher consumption to combat extreme summer heat. This extended grace period will continue through Sept. 18, 2022.
JEA encourages customers to do their best to stay current with their bills, as payments will be deferred, not waived. The six-week grace period will apply to any customer – residential or business – who needs more time to pay their bill.
“As a community-owned utility, we provide services that are among the top two or three bills our customers pay each month. And summer utility bills can be particularly tough for some,” JEA Managing Director & CEO Jay Stowe said. “We work every day to find ways to help our customers.”
Costs are rising in many areas – rent, gas, groceries – for consumers throughout the United States. And utility bills typically peak in the months of July and August in Northeast Florida.
Along with short-term solutions to help customers navigate these inflationary concerns, JEA also is offering longer-term relief. This month, JEA changed the deposit return timeframe from 24 months to 12 months for residential customers with good payment history.
Effective Oct. 1, JEA will eliminate the fees customers pay when using a credit or debit card. The utility will absorb these costs imposed by its payment processing vendor.
JEA will continue to focus on educating customers about conservation tips and ways to save. Customers may visit JEA.com/assistance for information on bill-pay solutions and utility payment assistance for families and individuals struggling financially.
About JEA
JEA is a not-for-profit, community-owned utility located in Jacksonville, Florida, proudly serving an estimated 496,000 electric, 374,000 water, 295,000 sewer and 20,000 reclaimed water customers. JEA is not owned by investors. It was created by the City of Jacksonville to serve those who live in Jacksonville and in the surrounding communities. The sole purpose of JEA’s business is to ensure the electric, water and sewer demands of its customers are met, both today and for generations to come with the goal to provide reliable services at the best value to our customers while ensuring our precious natural resources are protected.
