Need help with your electric bill? Some Florida Power and Light customers may be able to get some relief.
FPL is offering eligible customers a one-time $200 credit through its program FPL Saving Steps, and it is available to a range of households, including seniors, working families and others," according to its website.
Floridians on average currently pay the nation's ninth-highest electric bills
, according to a recent national ranking.Dawn Nichols, vice president of customer service at FPL, in a news release, said, "We want to reduce barriers, especially for older adults, and are more focused on making it easier for customers to get the help they need."
"Through FPL Savings Steps, eligible customers can receive immediate bill relief with a one-time
$200 credit and learn simple, practical ways to lower their energy use over time," Nichols said. "The credits are part of a broader commitment to customers with support through the FPL Assistance Center, a one-stop resource that brings together bill assistance, energy-saving programs, and community resources in one place."
Who can qualify for the $200 FPL credit?
According to FPL's website, these are the requirements:
- You must be a residential customer currently living in FPL’s service area.
- You have an active FPL account and live at a location served by FPL.
- Your account has no history of fraud, such as using a false name, unauthorized meter connections or tampering with electric service.
- Your household income is at or below the ALICE threshold for your county.
- You have not received this credit before. This bill credit is only available once per account or service address.
How do I qualify for FPL's credit?
First, determine whether you have received assistance such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP), or FPL Care To Share in the past 12 months.
This bill credit is only available once per account or service address, so if you've already received it, you won't get it again.
If you have, FPL will encourage you to watch some of its videos on how to save and will then ask you to complete an application below. If your account qualifies, you’ll receive confirmation within 60 days once the $200 bill credit has been applied.
If you haven't received any type of assistance in the last 12 months, you will need to verify your household income with the ALICE Calculator on the United Way website, then confirm with its agency partner, the Salvation Army. It will prompt you to "select your state and county, enter your household income and size to see if you are at or below the ALICE threshold to be eligible for FPL Saving Steps."
The website says that if your household is above the ALICE threshold for your county, it still has other resources designed to help you save.
What do I provide for proof of income?
If you do need to apply through The Salvation Army, you’ll need to provide documentation that verifies your income, which can include any of the following:
- Pay stub
- Social Security Disability payment
- VA disability pension proof
- Workers Compensation proof
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families proof
- Pension or retirement income proof
- Child support proof
- Alimony or spousal support proof
- Other income proof
Income verification times vary, but the Salvation Army processes most applications within 30 days. The Salvation Army will notify you directly of your application status.
When will I see the credit on my FPL account?
Once your income is confirmed, FPL says it will review your account to make sure you meet eligibility requirements.
"Within 60 days, you will receive approval confirmation, and the credit will be applied to your account. Altogether, receiving your credit may take up to 90 days."
Contributing: Clayton Park, USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida
Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County residents may qualify for FPL credit. How to apply
