Consumers are seeing prices rise from the gas pump to the grocery store. In this time when record-high natural gas prices are affecting power bills, Tampa Electric understands that customers are already facing financial strain. Tampa Electric is taking new measures to reduce the impact on our customers.
To help customers, Tampa Electric has:
- Created a dedicated Customer Assistance team to connect eligible customers with financial assistance and to ensure they get the help they need (by agency referral).
- Contributed $2 million to help qualified customers pay past-due bills.
- Streamlined the application for certain financial assistance programs and reduced paperwork.
- Worked with thousands of customers to provide payment arrangements and waive certain fees.
- Reduced this year’s fuel costs, which are part of every customer’s energy bill, by more than $100 million because of our investment in clean, renewable solar power.
In addition to these measures to help customers in need, Tampa Electric’s energy experts want to make all customers aware of ways to save energy – and to better manage summer electric bills. With record-breaking heat this summer, power bills may be higher than typical.
Start with Tampa Electric’s free online Energy Audit. It can pinpoint ways to save, lets you set up helpful alerts and much more.
Take savings a step further with Tampa Electric’s free Energy Planner program, which offers lower energy rates 87 percent of the time, and around the clock on weekends and major holidays. Participating customers save about a month’s worth of energy each year, with little effort. If you drive an electric vehicle, you can save even more.
With Energy Planner:
- You’ll get lower energy rates 19 to 20 hours on weekdays.
- You'll have access to a secure online portal so you can adjust your temperature settings while at home or on the go.
- You can maximize savings and make the most of this program.
To learn more and sign up, call our energy experts at 813-275-3909 weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.tampaelectric.com/energyplanner.
Tampa Electric offers more energy saving programs than any other utility in the state. Ask the company’s energy experts about rebates available when you install energy-efficient windows, Energy Star smart thermostats, Energy Star pool pumps, heating and cooling equipment and more. View a complete list of programs for home at tampaelectric.com/save and business at tampaelectric.com/bizsave.
The company offers several energy calculators that provide estimates of energy use costs based on your inputs and allow you to perform energy saving scenarios to identify opportunities for savings. Visit tampaelectric.com/save to access more than a dozen calculators.
Paperless Billing can simplify your life in three ways:
- Say goodbye to postage stamps and pay securely online.
- Choose to receive your bill via email or text.
- Put your account on cruise control with our Auto Pay option.
The Share program helps customers in need pay their utility bills. The program is administered by the Salvation Army and the Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Petersburg, and over the past two years, it’s helped nearly 5,700 customers pay electric and natural gas bills. Share is funded by the generosity of Tampa Electric, its employees, community partners and you – our generous customers.
If you need help with your utility bill payment, we encourage you to call 211. Tampa Electric has partnered with 211 to connect you with trained and supportive professionals from the Salvation Army and other local agencies who can help provide utility bill assistance, as funds remain available, and other human services assistance. Calling 211 will help determine which program you best qualify for and will help connect you to assistance. Visit tampaelectric.com/updates for additional resources.
Tampa Electric, one of Florida’s largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 800,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
