25-6.100. Customer Billings

(1) Bills shall be rendered monthly and as promptly as possible following the reading of meters.

(2) Each customer’s bill shall show at least the following information:

(a) The meter reading and the date the meter is read, in addition to the meter reading for the previous period. If the meter reading is estimated, the word “estimated” shall be prominently displayed on the bill.

(b)1. Kilowatt-hours (KWH) consumed including on and off peak if customer is time-of-day metered.

2. Kilowatt (KW) demand, if applicable, including on and off peak if customer is time-of-day metered.

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

1. Customer, Base or Basic Service charge.

2. Energy (KWH) charges, exclusive of fuel, in cents per KWH, and applicable cost recovery clause charges.

3. Demand (KW) charges, exclusive of fuel, in dollar cost per KW, if applicable, for any demand charges included in the utility’s rate structure and applicable cost recovery clause charges.

4. Fuel (KWH) charges in cents per KWH (no fuel costs shall be included in the Energy or Demand charges).

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

6. Franchise fees, if applicable.

7. Taxes, as applicable on purchases of electricity by the customer.

8. Any discount or penalty, if applicable.

9. Past due balances shown separately.

10. The gross and net billing, if applicable.

11. The rate and amount of the “Asset Securitization Charge,” pursuant to Section 366.95(4)(b), F.S., 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 KWH 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. Where metering complexity makes this requirement impractical, a statement must be on the bill advising where and how such information may be obtained from the utility.

(i) Where budget billing is used, the current month’s actual consumption and charges should be shown separately from budgeted amounts.

(j) If applicable, the information required by Section 366.8260(4), F.S., and Section 366.95(4), F.S.

(k) The name and address of the utility and the telephone number(s) and web address where customers can receive information about their bill as well as locations where the customers can pay their utility bill. Such information must identify those locations where no surcharge is incurred.

(3) When there is sufficient cause, estimated bills may be submitted provided that with the third consecutive estimated bill the company shall contact the customer explaining the reason for the estimated billing and who to contact in order to obtain an actual meter reading. An actual meter reading must be taken at least once every six months. If an estimated bill appears to be abnormal when a subsequent reading is obtained, the bill for the entire period shall be computed at a rate which contemplates the use of service during the entire period and the estimated bill shall be deducted. If there is reasonable evidence that such use occurred during only one billing period, the bill shall be computed.

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

(5) Whenever the period of service for which an initial or opening bill is rendered is less than the normal billing period, the charges applicable to such service, including minimum charges, shall be prorated except that initial or opening bills need not be rendered but the energy used during such period may be carried over to and included in the next regular monthly billing.

(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 utility 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) For the purposes of this subsection, the term “utility” shall mean any electric utility, rural electric cooperative, or municipal electric utility.

(d) 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), 366.04(2) FS. Law Implemented 366.03, 366.04(2), 366.041(1), 366.05(1), 366.051, 366.06(1), 366.8260(4), 366.95(4) FS. History–New 2-25-76, Amended 4-13-80, 12-29-81, 6-28-82, 5-16-83, 2-4-13, 2-1-16.