Florida Power and Light assistance programs.
Find how to get help paying Florida Power and Light e;electric bills. There is financial help for low-income families, people facing a disconnection, seniors and the chronically ill among others. Emergency assistance with FPL bills will help people keep their electric on or save them money through free weatherization. Both government and charity help is offered, and locate programs that help with FPL bills.
The main application phone numbers and customer service details are below. Low income families can access several emergency assistance programs in order to get help with paying utility, electric, and light bills, including summer AC costs. There are also free weatherization services or energy related home repairs, such as free window replacement programs for FPL customers, HVACor AC unit tune ups, insulation for a home and more. If you are behind on paying your FPL utility bills, or if you are facing a shut off, look into the different options below,
FPL Care to Share Program
This is funded by donations from businesses, charities, customers, and FPL The program was created to provide emergency financial assistance (grants and hardship funds) to help customers pay their bills if they are faced with an unexpected crisis. The service is run at the local level, and it is managed by local government agencies and nonprofits such as the Salvation Army, community action or government offices that qualify customers based on criteria established by Florida Power and Light. Locate community action near you in FL.
- Each agency that manages the program at the local level decides who gets funds for paying electric bills and who doesn’t. The non-profits in general use the program eligibility guidelines, but each agency may decide, on their own, to add additional criteria, based on availability of funding, volume of applicants or other factors. Funds are very limited and demand is high. Priority for FPL money is given to senior citizens, the disabled or to households with children under 10 years old.
- In total, the Care to Share program from FPL can provide hundreds of dollars that can be used to pay for electric and utility bills. It can also be used to pay for air conditioning, or to fix a unit too. People can apply at most once per year. Some exceptions can be made from time to time under special conditions.
- In order to get financial assistance from the Care to Share program, several conditions need to be met. They include:
- The customer must be able to provide proof of a personal or family crisis, they need to be behind on paying their bills and have a disconnect notice or final notice.
- They must have a plan to pay future electric bills as the help provided is only for a defined period of time.
- Applicants need to have applied for and used all other utility bill assistance programs, including both government and private resources. So the Care to Share program that is available for FPL customers is meant to serve as a last resort.
- A family emergency needs to be in effect, and the household must show proof of the financial hardship and show why they are falling behind on paying bills.
- Certain low income levels need to be met.
To apply for this crisis program, you can dial Florida Power and Light Customer Service at 1-800-225-5797, call your local Salvation Army, or dial other non-profits or referral services in your town or county. Many government social service offices also have information on the Care to Share program too or government support, including government grants to for window replacement.
Financial help to pay FPL electric bills
In addition to the program above, there are other options. These include from the government, such as LIHEAP, as well as payment plans, utility forgiveness programs and other aid directly from Florida Power and Light.
Another resource offered by Florida Power and Light is the ASSIST Program. This is a partnership of non-profit agencies and social service organizations that operate in the region. These various organizations provide a host of energy assistance programs. Dial 1-800-225-5797 for more information or use the FPL online website. Some of the services offered to low income FPL customers by ASSIST include:
- Emergency Home Energy Assistance (EHEAEP) program for Elderly, which is a federal government funded assistance program for seniors over 60. It provides seniors with free money to pay FPL light or electricity bills.
- FPL payment plans or extensions - Low-income families will often be provided a payment plan or some other relief with an Florida Power and Light bill. This is generally combined with other needed resources.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency - Emergency Food and Shelter Program (FEMA/EFSP) – This can offer financial assistance for housing needs, including electric and light bills.
- Disconnection prevention - During extreme weather events, such as a heat wave, the state of Florida will regulate and/or limit how a company can shut off power. FPL customer service, at 1-800-225-5797, should be notified of these extreme weather protections that often apply to the disabled or elderly.
Federal assistance, including free grant money, will help low income Florida Power and Light customers. the LIHEAP program is the main resource that provides financial help, including in an emergency. As there is crisis LIHEAP which will pay for Air conditioning bills during a heat wave, and in some cases the money can pay for a new air conditioner or to fix one.
To further expand on FPL Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), this is a federal funded grant program. Applications are accepted at your local community action agency, and those agencies also provide funds to qualified applicants. Florida Power and Light partners with your local community action agency to help distribute grants and manage the program. This can include a broken heating or cooling system, an impending cut-off of utility services, lack of heating fuel or wood, or just high cooling or heating bills caused by unusual circumstances.
Only low income households can qualify for LIHEAP. Funding is limited, but priority is given to seniors, elderly, disabled, and people who are faced with a crisis. Funds can be quickly provided if someone is faced with a disconnection of their power. Open to income qualified people of any age. This is another federal benefit for the low income. You will need to apply, and financial eligibility is determined for this program, by a local community agency or local Salvation Army office will often have information.
Free energy conservation measures for FP&L customers are provided by Weatherization. This is a free, federal government supported resource that can improve the integrity of a home and reduce the customer’s total energy usage. There are free home updates to help people save money, such as caulking, repair of a leaky roof or windows, extra insulation, and maybe even free energy efficiency windows. All of these are meant to help low-income families save money on their heating and/or cooling costs, including window.
The United States government created the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP). This can help people who are faced with homelessness (which can include having their power shut off) and those who are hungry or facing eviction. Federal government funds and grants can be used to pay energy bills for Florida Power and Light customers. Currently the program can pay for up to one month’s worth of utility bills, reconnection fees, and other financial assistance.
Applying for FP&L Resources
There is a toll free number for people to call to get customer service. There are a number of assistance programs offered, only some of which are listed above. Call Florida Power and Light at 1 (888) 988-8249 or 1-800-226-3545 for information.
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