Utility Bill Assistance Programs in Florida.
Florida's electric and gas utilities aim to offer a range of emergency and longer term assistance programs for customers who are struggling to pay their bills. These programs, listed below by company, are typically funded by voluntary customer donations - often matched by the company - and distributed through local nonprofits, community action agencies, the Salvation Army, or Catholic Charities. Many electric and gas companies in FL may also offer payment plans, budgeting billing and other options to try to help qualified struggling residents.
Most programs are intended for customers facing a short-term financial crisis, not long-term or chronic payment difficulty. There are also state and federal programs - including LIHEAP, the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly (EHEAP), and the Weatherization Assistance Program - available statewide regardless of which utility company serves you. See the government programs section below.
Assistance by Utility Company
Programs listed are for customers of each specific utility only. If your company is not listed, see the government programs section below or call 211. The Florida 211 site is at https://fl211.org. The providers often times also work with local charity organizations, the FL United Way 211, and other non-profits who administer the funds.
Clay County Utility Authority: Clay County Utility Authority offers two programs for customers facing hardship. The Golden Opportunities Plan is designed for customers age 62 or older, or those with a documented disability, allowing them to align their bill due date with their fixed income payment. The Lend-A-Helping-Hand program provides a one-time grant of up to $200 toward past-due water or sewer bills for customers experiencing a sudden crisis - such as job loss, illness, or injury. Priority is given to seniors, disabled individuals, and households with young children. The program partners with Catholic Charities Bureau and other local nonprofits. Call: (877) 476-2282. Learn more about Clay County utility bill assistance.
Clay Electric Cooperative: Clay Electric's Project Share program uses customer donations, collected by Clay Electric and distributed by the local Salvation Army, to provide emergency bill assistance to members in crisis. Assistance is available once per year. Applicants should contact their local Salvation Army office directly to apply. Call: (800) 224-4917. To apply: contact your local Salvation Army office
City of Leesburg — Citizens Utility Relief Effort (C.U.R.E.): Leesburg utility customers experiencing a sudden hardship — such as job loss or unexpected illness — can apply for the C.U.R.E. program, which provides up to $100 per year in utility bill assistance. Donations from customers and the city fund the program, which is administered by local nonprofits. Call: (352) 728-9800 (Customer Service, Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.)
City of Tallahassee Utilities — Project Share: Tallahassee Utilities' Project Share program has operated since 1986, providing one-time emergency utility payments to eligible customers. Funds are administered by the Capital Area Community Action Agency (CACAA). Eligibility screenings are held Monday through Friday, 8 to 10 a.m., at 309 Office Plaza Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301. You must be a City of Tallahassee Utilities customer and meet at least one of these criteria: age 60 or older; disabled or unable to maintain sufficient income; income temporarily interrupted due to illness, injury, or disaster; or a medical condition that would be worsened by loss of utility service. To apply: call CACAA at (850) 222-2043.
Duke Energy Florida — Energy Neighbor Fund: Duke Energy Florida's Energy Neighbor Fund provides assistance for residential customers facing unexpected energy costs, including bills for electricity, gas, oil, or wood. Funds come from customer and employee donations matched by the Duke Energy Foundation. Money is distributed monthly by county through 14 United Way and other partner social service agencies. Duke Energy also offers free home energy audits and weatherization referrals, and can assist with free air conditioners or fans for medically vulnerable customers. Call: (800) 700-8744. Or read more about other potential Duke Energy programs for low-income families.
Florida Power & Light (FPL) — Care to Share: FPL's Care to Share program offers emergency electric bill assistance to FPL customers in financial crisis who are in imminent danger of disconnection. Eligible households can receive up to $750 per 12-month period. Priority consideration is given to households with seniors, children under 10, or disabled members. Assistance is available once per year per household, and demand regularly exceeds available funds. Applicants must have a delinquent FPL bill or disconnect notice, a household income at or below the ALICE Threshold for their county, and no history of service fraud or tampering. Funds are distributed through a network of local nonprofit and government partner agencies - the specific agency varies by county. FPL also offers payment deferrals, extensions, and a 62Plus Payment Plan for seniors. To find the partner agency in your county: call (800) 226-3545. Read more about Florida Power and Light programs that may help the low income.
Florida Public Utilities (FPU): Florida Public Utilities does not operate its own emergency assistance fund. The company refers customers with past-due natural gas or electric bills to local nonprofits, including the Salvation Army, for assistance. FPU also offers budget billing and payment plans. Call FPU customer service for referrals and payment plan options and the website is at https://fpuc.com/customer-care/. Or we also have another page for potential options for financial support from Florida Public Utilities.
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority — Project CARE: FPUA's Project CARE is a nonprofit emergency assistance program funded entirely by voluntary customer donations. Funds are administered by Mustard Seed Ministries of Fort Pierce. Assistance is intended for customers who have experienced a sudden personal or family crisis, not ongoing financial difficulty. FPUA customers only; applicants must pay a portion of the bill themselves. Assistance is limited to once per 12-month period and does not cover late fees. To apply, contact Mustard Seed Ministries directly at (772) 465-6021. Customer service / payment plans: (772) 466-1600, ext. 3900
Gainesville Regional Utilities — Project SHARE: GRU's Project SHARE provides emergency grants for utility and cooling bills, including electric, gas, or oil bills, and can also cover the repair of essential heating or cooling equipment. Donations are collected by GRU and distributed by three local nonprofits: Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, and Gainesville Community Ministries. Preference is given to applicants age 60 or older, or those who are disabled or economically unable to support themselves. To apply, contact one of GRU's three partner agencies, or call the United Way of North Central Florida's 2-1-1 helpline for a referral.. GRU Customer Service: (352) 334-3434
JEA (Jacksonville) — Neighbor to Neighbor: JEA's Neighbor to Neighbor Fund, established in 1987, provides temporary utility bill assistance to JEA customers in a short-term financial crisis. Funds are collected by JEA and administered by the United Way of Northeast Florida and Catholic Charities. One hundred percent of donations go directly to customers in need. Seniors can also contact ElderSource at (888) 242-4464 for help navigating assistance options. JEA customers who need help should contact the United Way 211 helpline or JEA directly .Apply: Call 2-1-1 (United Way of Northeast Florida) or (904) 665-6000. Read more about utility bill assistance from JEA..
Kissimmee Utility Authority — Good Neighbor Utility Assistance Fund: KUA's Good Neighbor Utility Assistance Fund provides emergency electric bill assistance to KUA customers experiencing a temporary financial crisis. Donations from customers are matched dollar-for-dollar by KUA, and funds are administered by the Osceola Council on Aging. The online application is available through the Osceola Council on Aging website. Customers can also contribute through the Kissimmee Round-Up program, which rounds monthly bills up to the nearest dollar. Apply or get info: (407) 933-9800 (KUA Customer Service) or (877) 582-7700
Lake Worth Beach Utilities — Share to Care: Lake Worth Beach Utilities raises emergency assistance funds through voluntary customer and business donations. The program, known as Share to Care, is administered by the local Salvation Army branch, which determines eligibility. Assistance is available to Lake Worth Beach Utilities customers facing a hardship. For help, contact the Salvation Army in Palm Beach County at (561) 533-7300. Lake Worth Beach Utilities customer service visit https://utilities.lakeworthbeachfl.gov/.
Lakeland Electric — Project Care: Lakeland Electric's Project Care program, administered in partnership with Catholic Charities of Central Florida, provides electric bill assistance to qualifying customers age 61 or older, or those with a disability in the household. Customers can contribute by rounding up their monthly bill or making a direct donation. Lakeland Electric customers only. Call for assistance or information: (863) 834-9535
Ocala Electric Utility — Neighbors Who Care: Ocala Electric Utility's Neighbors Who Care program is funded by voluntary customer contributions and administered by a local community charity. It is designed to help OEU customers who are unable to maintain utility service due to a financial hardship or short-term emergency. Call OEU Customer Service: (352) 629-2489
Orlando Utilities Commission — Project CARE: OUC's Project CARE is a utility bill assistance program for OUC customers in Orange and Osceola counties experiencing a temporary financial hardship. Eligible households can receive up to $500 in a 12-month period. The program is administered by the Heart of Florida United Way. OUC also partners with technology provider Promise to proactively identify customers who may qualify for federal LIHEAP funds. For emergency home energy assistance for seniors (age 60+), contact ElderSource at (407) 846-8532 or toll-free at (800) 963-5337. Apply / information: (407) 423-9018 (OUC Customer Service)
Peoples Gas — SHARE Program: Peoples Gas, Florida's largest natural gas distribution utility, participates in the SHARE program jointly with Tampa Electric (TECO). SHARE provides utility bill assistance to qualifying Peoples Gas customers. The program is administered by the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg. To find out if you qualify, call 211. Peoples Gas also offers payment plans and budget billing. Apply: Call 2-1-1 for a referral. Customer service: (877) 832-6747. More information about Peoples Gas assistance.
SECO Energy — SECO Energy Foundation (formerly Angel Fund): SECO Energy's assistance program, formerly known as the Angel Fund, now operates through the SECO Energy Foundation, funded in part through the "Pennies from Heaven" round-up program. Funds are used to provide financial assistance for local community needs and to help SECO members in crisis. To learn about current programs and apply, contact SECO directly or visit their "Find Bill Payment Help" page. Call: (352) 793-3801
Tampa Electric — SHARE Program: Tampa Electric's SHARE program helps customers who are struggling to pay their utility bills by matching donations from customers, employees, and the company to create an assistance fund. As an example of scope, in many years the program raises and distributes hundreds of thousands of dollars. SHARE is administered by Metropolitan Ministries, the Salvation Army, and the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg. To find out if you qualify, call 211. You'll need a current Tampa Electric account number, a delinquent bill or final notice, and proof of identity. Apply: Call 2-1-1 for a referral. Tampa Electric customer service: (888) 223-0800. Find more details about assistance from Tampa Electric.
Government and Statewide Programs
LIHEAP and Weatherization Assistance: The federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) are available to qualifying Florida households regardless of your utility company. These programs can help pay heating and cooling bills, and in some cases provide a small free air conditioner for customers with a medical need. Weatherization assistance is also available to reduce energy costs long-term. Apply through your local community action agency. Find your local agency: Call (850) 717-8450. Get more information about LIHEAP and weatherization in Florida.
Florida Community Action Agencies: Community action agencies are local nonprofits that administer many state and federal energy assistance programs, including LIHEAP. They can also connect you with additional resources for utilities, housing, and basic needs. Find a list of community action agencies in Florida.
Florida Public Service Commission — The Florida PSC oversees utility regulation and can provide information and referrals for consumers with questions about utility service or billing. Call: (800) 342-3552. Website: https://www.psc.state.fl.us/.
Legal and Senior Services
Elder Helpline: Provides access to EHEAP and senior-specific discounts. Phone: 1-800-963-5337.
EHEAP: Emergency energy assistance for seniors 60 and older. Website: https://www.seniorresourcealliance.org/eheap/
Florida Legal Aid: Can help residents facing illegal utility disconnections or disputes with energy companies.
Community Forum - Local Tips
For community-led advice, tips and statewide discussion on programs in FL, visit the forum on Florida utility assistance programs. There you will find comments, suggestions and possible resources listed by other residents, with the forum being free to use and also moderated.
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