Florida may be the Sunshine State, but a new federal report shows millions are being left in the dark.
According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Florida had the second-highest number of electricity shutoffs in the country last year. With roughly 2.1 million disconnections due to unpaid bills, Florida trails only Texas in the volume of households losing power.
The "Heat Safety" Gap
While 44 other states have laws preventing utilities from cutting power during extreme weather, Florida has no such protection. This means even during record-breaking summer heat waves, residents who fall behind on payments can lose their air conditioning.
Advocacy groups like AARP Florida warn that this creates a "life-or-death" situation for seniors and vulnerable families who are already struggling with the state's rising cost of living.
Why Are Bills Skyrocketing?
Several factors are driving the surge in disconnections:
- Heavy Reliance on Gas: Florida gets about 75% of its power from natural gas, making bills highly sensitive to global price spikes.
- Recent Rate Hikes: State regulators recently approved massive increases for major utilities like FPL, Duke Energy, and TECO.
- Above-Average Costs: The average Florida monthly bill now sits at $168, which is over $30 higher than the national average.
FPL alone accounted for nearly 1.3 million of the state’s shutoffs. As utility companies report record profits, consumer advocates are calling for stricter "shutoff moratoriums" to protect residents during the hottest months of the year.