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Florida Coalition Requests Freeze On Shutting Off Utilities

young female worker reading meters
auremar
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Adobe Stock
young female worker reading meters

A Florida coalition is requesting utilities remain on until June of 2021 for people behind on payments. Between March and October, Florida’s four largest utility companies incurred more than 60 million in debt due to late payments. Orlando resident Marta Orbe says she wants to pay but can’t and doesn’t know where to get help.

“I don’t know where I need to go, it’s no flyers. But when it’s the time for vote and stuff they send flyers, why they don’t send any flyers for people who need help," said Orbe. "We don’t know where to go, which people we need to contact. It’s terrible."

The group Connected in Crisis sent a letter to the Chairs of the Florida House and Senate Budget Committee urging them to address the crisis. In October, Florida Power and Light disconnected more than 70,000 residential customers' power and mailed out more than 340,000 notices for disconnection.

Copyright 2020 WFSU

Blaise Gainey is a Multimedia Reporter for WFSU News. Blaise hails from Windermere, Florida. He graduated from The School of Journalism at the Florida A&M University. He formerly worked for The Florida Channel, WTXL-TV, and before graduating interned with WFSU News. He is excited to return to the newsroom. In his spare time he enjoys watching sports, Netflix, outdoor activities and anything involving his daughter.