Letter from Managing Director and CEO

A Word About Your JEA Bill & What We’re Doing to Help

August 15, 2022

Dear Valued JEA Customer,

As the leader of Jacksonville’s community-owned utility, looking out for your best interests is important to me and the rest of the team at JEA. It’s a charge I take seriously every day, where our team members are committed to improving lives and building community. We do that by providing reliable, affordable utility services, and transparent communication to help keep you informed.

We know recent customer bills have been more of a burden – and we’ve heard from you through phone calls, email, and conversations in your neighborhoods. Many of you are asking why your monthly bill has gone up.

There are two primary factors:

1. Increased energy use during extreme heat
2. Higher wholesale costs for the fuel we use to generate electricity.

I know this has come at a challenging time, considering everyone has had to adjust to higher costs on many other things we rely on every day, from rent to groceries. 

The extreme heat here in Northeast Florida this summer is one part of the equation. Our household and business energy use rises when air conditioning systems operate for longer periods throughout the day.

Nonetheless, there’s another reason bills have gone up the way they have. The cost of natural gas, a significant portion of our fuel mix that we use to generate power, is the highest it has been in almost 15 years, and the wholesale fuels market is influenced by domestic and international forces. The fuel component of the average residential bill was significantly higher in July 2022 compared to the same time last year.

Keep in mind, fuel charges are a pass-through cost, and when JEA’s cost of fuel goes down, we will be able to pass those savings along to you.

Last fall, when we announced the change to monthly fuel rate adjustments, I told you our team would keep a close watch on fuel costs and do everything we could to save money when we buy fuel, as well as offer you programs, services and tips to help you save.

Here are a few of the things we’ve announced recently:

• We stopped disconnections based on delinquent payments for all customers from Aug. 1 through Sept. 18. Read the press release.
• We made it easier than ever to qualify for a payment arrangement, which gives you the option to pay an overdue balance over nine monthly installments interest-free.
• For residential customers with a positive payment history, we’ve begun refunding deposits after 12 months, instead of 24.
• Starting Oct. 1, we’ll stop charging fees for the use of a credit or debit card to pay your bill.
  

As your community-owned utility, I want you to know that our entire team is doing everything possible to keep rates affordable and offer programs to help you in these extreme times.

Thank you for giving us the privilege to serve you and your family.

Jay Stowe

P.S. -- Our chief customer officer, Sheila Pressley, also would like to tell you about one of our billing programs that, for most of you, can immediately lower your summertime bills. Please click the window below to watch.