25-7.085. Customer Billing

(1) Bills shall be rendered monthly. With the exception of a duplicate bill, each customer’s bill shall show at least the following information:

(a) The meter reading and the date the meter was read plus the meter reading for the previous period. When an electronic meter is used, the gas volume consumed for the billing month may be shown. If the gas consumption is estimated, the word “estimated” shall prominently appear on the bill.

(b) Therms and cubic feet consumed.

(c) The total dollar amount of the bill, indicating separately:

1. Customer, Base or Basic Service charge.

2. Energy (therm) charges exclusive of fuel cost in cents per therm.

3. Fuel (therm) charges in cents per therm (no fuel costs shall be included in the charge for energy).

4. Total gas cost which at a minimum is the sum of charges 1 through 3 above but can include other line item charges (e.g., Florida Gross Receipts Tax).

5. Franchise fees, if applicable.

6. Taxes, as applicable on purchases of gas by the customer.

7. Any discount or penalty, if applicable.

8. Past due balances.

9. The gross and net billing, if applicable.

(d) Identification of the applicable rate schedule.

(e) The date by which payment must be made in order to benefit from any discount or avoid any penalty, if applicable.

(f) The average daily therm consumption for the current period and for the same period in the previous year, for the same customer at the same location.

(g) The delinquent date or the date after which the bill becomes past due.

(h) Any conversion factors which can be used by customers to convert from meter reading units to billing units.

(i) Where budget billing is used, the bill shall contain the current month’s consumption and charges separately from budgeted amounts.

(j) The name of the utility plus the address, telephone number(s) and web address where the bill can be paid and questions concerning the bill can be answered.

(2) All gas utilities shall charge for gas service on a thermal basis instead of on a volume basis. The provisions governing customer billing on a thermal basis shall be as follows:

(a) The unit of service shall be the “Therm.”

(b) The number of therms which shall have been taken by consumer during a given period shall be determined by multiplying the difference in the meter readings in cubic feet at the beginning and end of the period by the conversion factors in paragraph (1)(h) including a heating-value factor which has been determined as prescribed in paragraph (c) below.

(c) The heating-value factor for gas utilities receiving and distributing natural gas shall be the average thermal value of the natural gas received and distributed during the preceding month. In case the average heating value during the calendar month has been below the standard, then the value to be used in determining the factor shall be the heating value standard minus a deduction of one percent (1%) for each one percent (1%) or fraction thereof that the average heating value has been below the standard.

(d) The consumer shall be billed to the nearest one-tenth of a therm.

(3) Whenever the period of service for which an initial or opening bill would be rendered is less than the normal billing period, no bill for that period need be rendered if the volume amount consumed is carried over and included in the next regular monthly billing. If, however, a bill for such period is rendered, the applicable charges, including minimum charges, shall be prorated.

(4) When there is sufficient cause, estimated billings may be used by a utility provided that with the customer’s third consecutive estimated billing the customer is informed of the reason for the estimation and whom to contact to obtain an actual meter reading if one is desired. An actual meter reading must be taken at least once every six months. If an estimated bill appears to be abnormal once an actual meter reading is obtained, the bill for the entire estimation period shall be computed at a rate based on use of service during the entire period and the estimated bill shall be deducted. If there is substantial evidence that such use occurred during only one billing period, the bill shall be computed.

(5) The advancement or postponement of regular meter reading dates is governed by Section 366.05(1)(b), F.S.

(6) The practices employed by each utility regarding customer billing shall have uniform application to all customers on the same rate schedule.

(7) Franchise Fees.

(a) When a municipality charges a utility any franchise fee, the utility may collect that fee only from its customers receiving service within that municipality. When a county charges a utility any franchise fee, the county may collect that fee only from its customers receiving service within that county.

(b) A utility may not incorporate any franchise fee into its other rates for service.

(c) This subsection shall not be construed as granting a municipality or county the authority to charge a franchise fee. This subsection only specifies the method of collection of a franchise fee, if a municipality or county, having authority to do so, charges a franchise fee.

Rulemaking Authority 366.05(1) FS. Law Implemented 366.05(1), 366.06(1) FS. History–New 12-15-73, Repromulgated 1-8-75, Amended 5-4-75, 11-21-82, 12-26-82, Formerly 25-7.85, Amended 10-10-95, 7-3-96, 2-1-16.