Is your JEA bill higher than usual? The cold snap is likely to blame

We’ve thawed out from frigid weather at the end of January and the beginning of this month.

If you turned up the heat in your home during that time you will likely see a higher bill soon.

Frigid weather loomed over Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida at the end of January 2026 and the beginning of February 2026.

JEA says customers used their utility more than normal and the next bill will likely be higher.

“It certainly has warmed up since early February and may have forgotten about that freezing weekend, but our customers will likely be reminder of that deep freeze from February 1^st and 2^nd when they see their next utility bill. Electric rates have not increased since the start of the year, but consumption has." said Karen McAllister, spokesperson for JEA.

JEA experienced near record level usage during that weekend and systems were working harder and longer.

Customer bills are primarily driven by two factors: energy usage and the cost of fuel used to generate electricity. Fuel prices fluctuate based on market supply and demand fundamentals, along with other external factors.

With the possibility for a higher bill, JEA customers have multiple options.

Options include:

• Payment extensions give customers extra time to pay. This is a short-term solution that allows customers an additional 10 to 15 days beyond their due date.
• Payment arrangements allow customers to pay their bill over time. This is a longer-term option where customers make monthly installments.
• For those going through a more difficult hardship, you can call United Way at 211 to connect with nonprofits that offer financial assistance to qualifying families.
• MyBudget is a levelized billing program that averages past usage so your bill is about the same each month. It makes budgeting a little easier because your utility bill is predictable.
• For those who may not have difficulty with their own bill, they can pay it forward by helping someone who is struggling. Customers can either make a payment on a person’s behalf through JEA’s Guest Pay feature, or you can make a donation to JEA’s Neighbor to Neighbor program and 100 percent will go to a family struggling in our community.

Customers can find bill pay solutions and information on utility payment assistance at jea.com/assistance