JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – JEA will start to disconnect service from customers, including those who haven’t paid their bills because of the pandemic.
The utility company suspended disconnections in March after a state of emergency was declared.
Governor Ron DeSantis extended the state’s emergency order for another 60 days on Tuesday, but JEA said it would go through with disconnections.
JEA leadership had extended its grace period for disconnecting customers through July 9, but the utility announced Thursday that disconnections will begin in phases on Friday.
The city-owned utility said it is still planning to work in phases to help customers navigate disconnections and payment plans.
Accounts that had delinquent balances before the pandemic will be disconnected first, JEA said.
Then, in the next few days, there will be 80 to 100 service interruptions per hour. Non-payment disconnections will happen between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., according to Director of Customer Revenue Services Shelia Pressley.
“Of course, it is not our desire to disconnect any customer so we ask that they contact us for payment arrangements or other billing programs to avoid the disconnections,” Pressley said.
To ensure that customers are still able to speak with a representative to pay past due balances, make payment arrangements and conduct regular business:
- JEA center representatives will be available until 7 p.m., Monday thru Friday for service restorations
- Service restoration fees are waived until Sept. 30, 2020
- JEA will continue to communicate with customers regarding their account status
- Customers with questions regarding their bill are encouraged to visit www.jea.com, or contact JEA at 904-665-6000