Sunshine Sentinel

Florida energy companies Duke Energy and Tampa Electric Company have pledged not to shut off power during the coronavirus crisis.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that Tampa Electric Company and Peoples Gas, as well as Duke Energy Florida, will suspend power shutoffs due to nonpayment at least through the end of March 2020. Duke Energy did not provide an end date to this action.  

“We’re keeping the energy flowing to our customers because we know how vital it is to their lives,” said Cherie Jacobs, spokeswoman for Tampa Electric in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times.

Customers should continue to pay their bills, utility representatives said.

 “Customers should pay what they can to avoid building up a large balance that will be harder to pay off later,” Duke Energy said in a release.

Duke Energy will waive late payment fees and fees for returned payments for millions of customers starting March 21, until the national emergency is lifted, according to a notice on the company’s website.

The Empowerment Alliance, a natural gas lobbying organization, applauded those decisions in a March 18 press release.

“As many Americans have seen their work hours reduced or have been laid off, many will be unable to pay for basic energy services,” said Ian Prior, spokesperson for The Empowerment Alliance. “Fortunately, utility companies around the country are doing the right thing and suspending customer shut offs and resuming service. It’s the kind of patriotic response this country needs, and The Empowerment Alliance applauds their efforts and encourages all others that can to follow suit.”.

In addition, Duke and Tampa Electric are limiting in-person interactions to reduce the potential for spreading the coronavirus. They also warn that scammers may reach out during this crisis and encourage customers to stay vigilant. Neither company will contact customers to demand payment, encourage payment with gift cards, or show up at residences to discuss unpaid balances.